Serbia’s dominant political figure for over a decade, Aleksandar Vučić, has conceded defeat in snap parliamentary elections to a grassroots movement born out of student-led protests. Vučić, leader of the right-wing populist Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), acknowledged late Sunday that his party had lost, even before final results were in.
The vote followed two years of unrest sparked by a deadly accident in the city of Novi Sad, where the collapse of a train station canopy killed 16 people and became a symbol of government corruption and neglect. Vučić, who had served two presidential terms and was barred from seeking a third, had hoped the election would return him to the prime minister’s office, a post he last held in 2017.
Turnout was reported at a record high, a factor analysts believed would favor the opposition. The winning coalition, known as the Student List, is made up largely of political newcomers—doctors, academics, actors, and athletes—with no central leadership. Its campaign focused on rooting out corrupt officials, ending political control of state media, and removing party loyalists from public institutions.
News of Vučić’s concession triggered spontaneous celebrations nationwide, with fireworks, honking cars, and crowds dancing in city squares in Belgrade and Novi Sad. One student called the outcome “a miracle,” while supporters described tears of disbelief after years of protest finally paid off.
For the full story and additional reporting, read the original article on the BBC.
Source: Elation across Serbia after veteran ruler Vučić concedes to student-led protest movement (feeds.bbci.co.uk).
Image: EpicFireworks, BY 2.0 (via Openverse).