Serbia: Aleksandar Vučić concedes defeat to the student list after fourteen years in power

Beijing, October 26, 2026. The Chinese press accessible in this corpus, led by CGTN, is treating Aleksandar Vučić's defeat as a shift in domestic policy: the end of fourteen years of domination by the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), confirmed the day after Sunday's anticipated legislative election on October 25.

CGTN, updated on Monday, October 26, presents the former Serbian president as having acknowledged his defeat before the official results. The first projections from the Ipsos and CeSID institutes give the "Student List – Students Win" 52% of the vote, against 39.3% for the "Aleksandar Vučić – United Serbia" coalition. From his campaign headquarters in Belgrade, Vučić stated: "It is clear that we have lost these elections." He estimated the opposing majority at 135-140 seats out of 250, compared to around 105 for his camp, or around 2.2 million votes against 1.72 million. The channel also mentions the celebrations at the Student List's headquarters and quotes one of its prominent candidates, Radomir Saičić, a professor at the University of Belgrade and a member of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts.

The South China Morning Post, published on the day of the vote, had set the stage beforehand: the election was announced as the most disputed in over fourteen years, the culmination of nearly two years of student-led protests. The recalled starting point is the collapse, in 2024, of the canopy at Novi Sad's train station, which killed 16 people, a drama "largely attributed to corruption." The Hong Kong daily describes it as the origin of some of the largest protests in Serbia since the fall of the previous government.

The narrative is thus primarily descriptive and arithmetic: projection figures, seat distribution, mention of a movement born out of anti-corruption protests. Both media outlets focus on the ongoing shift in power and the new force's absolute majority, without developing, in the available passages, the consequences for Belgrade's foreign policy or Vučić's attribution of his defeat to independent media and foreign interference. The formation of the future government remains, at this stage, the open question that these texts hint at, since the former head of state was seeking the post of Prime Minister.

Buenos Aires, October 26, 2026. The Argentine government is closely following the situation in Serbia, where Aleksandar Vučić's defeat is being seen as a significant political shift: the Student List won the Serbian early legislative elections on Sunday, October 25, in a vote that La Nación describes as a "referendum" on his 14 years in power, with a participation rate of nearly 70%.

The story begins with the leader's admission. "Based on a stratified sample, it is clear that we have lost these elections," Vučić said to his supporters at the headquarters of his party in Belgrade, an hour and a half after the polls closed and without final results. He estimated that the Student List would win 135-140 seats out of 250 and the Serbian Progressive Party around 105, giving the opposition an absolute majority. Infobae adds partial results from 750 polling stations: 52% for the Student List, or 138 seats, compared to 39.3% and 104 seats for the Aleksandar Vučić-Serbia United list. Only the Hungarian and Albanian minorities also obtained representation, with a threshold of 3%.

The Argentine press recalls Vučić's background: he was Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense from 2012 to 2014, then Prime Minister for three years, and has been President since 2017. He had resigned from the presidency in September to lead the ruling party's list as a candidate for Prime Minister, as the Constitution prohibits him from serving a third presidential term.

The newspaper emphasizes the origin of the movement, the collapse of the Novi Sad train station canopy on November 1, 2024, which killed 16 people, a tragedy "attributed to corruption." Infobae presents the head of the list, Ilija Srdanović, a cardiologist and professor in Novi Sad, and a list composed of academics, economists, lawyers, engineers, sociologists, and artists.

The EFE dispatch quotes Dejan Bodiroga, a basketball legend and candidate on the list: "We have won freedom, thanks to this youth." He sees this as an "apparent reference" to the European Union, the direction Serbia wants to take, the only international aspect of the case.

Vučić, for his part, has promised to "fight," stating that "our structure is very solid" and that "many will be surprised to see how much some have lied." The two media outlets describe him as a former president and nationalist populist leader, and do not develop the future government's program or regional issues.

Canberra, 26 October 2026. SBS, the ABC, and PerthNow report Aleksandar Vučić's defeat as a political shift after fourteen years of power. On Sunday, 25 October, during the early legislative elections called in September, the Serbian leader acknowledged: "It is clear that we have lost these elections. The Student List has won." He projected between 135 and 140 seats for them and 105 for his party, out of 250: "no one else has entered Parliament."

The narrative goes back to the origin of the movement: the collapse, in 2024, of the canopy of the Novi Sad train station, which killed 16 people. The ABC and PerthNow speak of nearly two years of protests against perceived corruption and rampant authoritarianism. SBS specifies that the disaster was largely attributed to corruption and triggered some of the largest protests since the fall of Slobodan Milošević in 2000.

Turnout is highlighted: nearly 70%, the highest since the breakup of Yugoslavia in 1992, according to the ABC, the strongest in over three decades, according to SBS, with long lines in front of polling stations, "a sign of a desire for change". A representative sample from CESID-IPSPS cited by the ABC gives 138 seats to the Student List and 104 to the SNS.

Street scenes occupy an important place: horns blaring in Belgrade, cries of "victory", students in tears at the Student List's headquarters. Mila Martic tells AFP: "I feel like I'm finally living in a free country." Professor Radomir Sajcic says on behalf of the students: "Tonight we celebrate the victory. Tomorrow we build the future."

The articles also recall that Vučić, supported by Vladimir Putin, had denounced the movement as a foreign-led attempt to oust him. PerthNow mentions a "leaderless youth movement" that has shaken his grip and speaks of a "political earthquake" in the Balkans. The same text reports tensions during the vote: riot police around the electoral commission, violent incidents reported by local media. Earlier, SBS highlighted the attention of the European Union, with Serbia being a candidate, and the possible resonance of a student victory in other European countries.

Brussels, 26 October 2026. On Sunday, 25 October, during the early legislative elections in Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić acknowledged the defeat of his camp. The Belgian press, from VRT NWS to La Libre Belgique, first recounts the scene: the admission, then the joy that followed in Belgrade.

According to VRT NWS, Vučić, the outgoing president, stated around 21:30, during a press conference at the headquarters of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS): "According to the first results, it is clear that we have lost these elections." La Libre Belgique, in an article published on 25 October at 22:13, quotes the same concession in French: "It is clear that we have lost these elections." It describes a nationalist leader, "a dominant figure in Serbian political life for 14 years," who admits the victory of the student movement after two years of protests.

The figures come from the CRTA observation organization, cited by VRT in a first communication: 51.47% of the votes for the Student List against 40.42% for Vučić. The participation was exceptional: at 18:00 local time, 64.89% of the approximately 6.4 million voters had voted, according to the electoral commission, which is the highest rate at this time since 1993. Voters still in line at 20:00 were able to vote. The Serbs were electing 250 deputies from 18 lists.

On the ground, VRT journalist Paulien Lambert, posted at the headquarters of the Student List, speaks of a "historische overwinning" of the movement. She describes a festive atmosphere, "veel emoties, veel vreugde," and notes that no one expected such a rapid clarity: everyone expected hours of suspense, but the gap with Vučić is "allesbehalve klein." According to her, the strong participation shows "hoe sterk de verkiezingen leven in Servië." La Libre, on the other hand, evokes an "explosion of joy in the center of Belgrade" as soon as the announcement was made.

The Belgian account remains focused on the student movement and the mobilization of voters, rather than on the composition of a future majority or the diplomatic follow-up. The two provided articles stick to the election night and the first results.

Ottawa, October 26, 2026. Canadian media describe a "political earthquake" in the Balkans. Global News, CBC, and the Globe and Mail agree: on Sunday, October 25, Aleksandar Vučić acknowledged his defeat to the Student List, after fourteen years of power described as "virtually absolute" by Global News, which quotes a news agency dispatch.

"It is clear that we have lost these elections, the Student List has won," Vučić said, according to CBC, projecting 135 to 140 seats for his opponents versus 105 for the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), in a 250-seat Parliament. He mentioned around 2.2 million votes for the students versus 1.7 million for his party. An exit poll cited by CBC gives 138 MPs to the students and 104 to the SNS. The announcement came about an hour and a half after the polling stations closed.

The Globe and Mail, before the vote count, emphasized the mobilization: lines in front of polling stations, 27.3% participation at 11 am versus 15.1% in the 2023 election, and Vučić himself waiting nearly two hours to vote. CBC later reported participation at nearly 70%, the highest since the breakup of Yugoslavia in 1992.

The story goes back to the origin of the movement: the collapse of the Novi Sad train station canopy in 2024, which killed 16 people, and then nearly two years of protests against perceived corruption and rampant authoritarianism. A professor at the University of Belgrade, Radomir Sajcic, said on behalf of the students: "Tonight we celebrate the victory, tomorrow we build the future." In the streets of Belgrade, horns and slogans, including "Aleksandar is gone."

Global News notes that Vučić, supported by Vladimir Putin, attributed his defeat to independent media, interference from unnamed European countries, and a "deep American state." The Globe and Mail recalls, however, that many voters credit him with building highways, railways, schools, and hospitals, and that Vučić had resigned as president to run for prime minister.

The Globe and Mail draws a parallel with Viktor Orbán's defeat in Hungary in April and sees the student victory as a possible model for other youth movements in Europe.

Berne, October 26, 2026. In the Swiss press, Aleksandar Vučić's defeat is first told through the terrain. Le Temps describes, as early as 6:30 am on Sunday, October 25, a line in front of a primary school in the Zvezdara neighborhood of Belgrade, "traditionally acquired by the opposition". Mila, 66, a retired teacher, who demonstrated against Milošević and then against Vučić, explains that she wants to show "our determination" through a massive and early vote. The newspaper notes queues of one kilometer in Novi Beograd and the chant "I want three kisses", which has become the anthem of the Student List, number 3 on the ballots.

SRF News reports that Vučić has acknowledged defeat while only projections existed. According to him, the Student List would obtain between 135 and 140 seats, his party around 105. The channel cites the CRTA observation group: 51.5% for the Student List, 40.4% for the SNS, no other party above the 3% threshold. Participation is approaching 70%, an unprecedented level since 1992. The students' spokesperson, Professor Radomir Sajcic, says: "Today we celebrate the victory, tomorrow we shape the future."

A commentary by SRF, titled "A success for democracy", reads the result as a rejection of corruption. It describes an elite that many Serbs consider a "mafia", takes the collapse of the canopy of the Novi Sad train station, which killed 16 people, as a symbol, and recalls that the movement remained in the streets for nearly two years before creating a list. It also evokes Vučić's control over a large part of the media and a policy based on division.

The Swiss dimension appears through the diaspora. More than 4,000 voters had registered in Switzerland, but could only vote in Berne and Zurich. In front of the Zurich consulate, the line sometimes reached half a kilometer and some people waited eight hours. Ivana Heusser, a game group animator, says that her name and that of her son were missing from the list, unlike that of her husband, and she was initially unable to vote. That same morning, Vučić had declared: "The will of the people is the will of God."

Santiago, October 26, 2026. The Chilean press is covering Aleksandar Vučić's defeat as a shift in domestic policy, born out of street mobilization and concluded at the polls. La Tercera reports that Vučić "acknowledges his defeat" and that the Student List will be the country's leading party. The newspaper puts the result at 138 seats for the student movement, compared to 104 for the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), well above the 126 needed to govern in a 250-deputy parliament. BioBioChile, citing preliminary results, talks about 135 to 140 seats against 105 for the ruling camp.

Both media outlets emphasize the nature of the vote. For La Tercera, these early elections, called by Vučić in September, "were experienced as a referendum on Vučić's continuation in power" and represented the greatest challenge to his government in over a decade. The newspaper also notes that the former president waited nearly two hours in line to vote, and reports, according to pollsters CeSID and Ipsos, a turnout of 27.3% at 11 am, compared to 15.1% at the same time in 2023. BioBioChile advances a turnout close to 70%, the highest since the dissolution of Yugoslavia.

The genesis of the movement is recalled in the same way: nearly two years of student protests against alleged corruption and growing authoritarianism, triggered by the death of 16 people in Novi Sad in 2024, when the awning of a station collapsed. La Tercera specifies that the students have since obtained broad support.

BioBioChile gives voice to the winners and the street. The streets of Belgrade "erupted in celebrations", with horns and cries of "victory" and "it's over". Professor Radomir Saicic, from the University of Belgrade, speaks on behalf of the students: "Tonight we celebrate the victory, tomorrow we will build the future". The media talks about "a new political era" for the Balkans.

The provided articles focus on the seat count, mobilization, and the story of the defeat. They do not develop, in the available excerpts, the consequences for Belgrade's foreign policy, nor the future government or its Prime Minister. La Tercera mentions the time difference with Chile (the offices were closing at 8 pm local time, 5 pm Chile time) and relies on Reuters to describe the long lines of voters.

Berlin, October 26, 2026. The German press is treating Sunday's Serbian election as a shift in power. The FAZ reports that the "Studentische Liste" won the early legislative elections, "possibly with an absolute majority," and that long-time president Aleksandar Vučić acknowledged his party's defeat during an evening press conference. It cites the pro-government daily Blic: "It's clear that we've lost." According to Vučić, the student list would obtain between 135 and 140 of the 250 seats.

The Handelsblatt speaks of a "surprisingly clear" victory and a "severe defeat" for the man who, in changing roles since 2012, has almost single-handedly directed Serbian politics. According to a projection by the Cesid group, the opposition movement exceeds 52% of the vote, compared to just over 39% for the SNS. A projection by the CRTA, cited in another article in the newspaper, gives 51.5% against 40.4% and no other party in parliament. The newspaper notes a record turnout, close to 70%, and the explosion of joy in Belgrade: car processions, fireworks, and tens of thousands of people in Slavija Square. However, it specifies that the name of the next head of government remains open despite this "resounding electoral victory".

The Tagesschau describes long lines in front of polling stations on election day and, according to the independent CRTA institute, 41% of voters at 1 pm compared to 26% in the previous election. It also relays accusations of manipulation, as well as Vučić's voters who are waiting for "peace and stability". The FAZ also mentions incidents and suspicions of attempted fraud, and recalls that nearly 65% of registered voters had cast their ballots by 6 pm, a level never seen at this hour since 1991. It puts this sequence in perspective with the presidential election of September 2000, which triggered the fall of Slobodan Milošević, while specifying that the comparison remains limited.

DW, in an article on October 24, had set the stage: around 200,000 people in Slavija Square, 250 candidates on the list, and protests born out of the collapse of the Novi Sad train station canopy in November 2024, which killed 16 people. Politologist Dušan Spasojević judged this election to be the first truly contested one since 2012. Overall, the German coverage prioritizes the change in power, mobilization, and uncertainty about the formation of the government, rather than the issue of foreign interference.

Copenhagen, October 26, 2026. Berlingske and Politiken, which pick up the Reuters dispatch, report that Serbian leader Aleksandar Vučić has acknowledged his defeat in Sunday's legislative elections to a protest movement led by students. Politiken describes him as the "strongman" of Serbia. The two dailies quote his words: "It is clear that we have lost this election, the student movement has won, it gets between 135 and 140 seats, and we have 105." He specifies that no other force will enter Parliament, and that the final result is not yet known.

The Danish press looks back at the origins of the vote. Vučić had resigned from the presidency and dissolved Parliament before calling these elections. These follow nearly two years of student-led protests, triggered by the collapse of a concrete awning at Novi Sad station in November 2024, which killed 16 people. Protesters see this as a consequence of corruption: the station had just been renovated, and some accuse the government of not spending the announced sums on the project.

Politiken emphasizes the paradox of a movement "that has no leader" but has gained broad popular support and was seen as the greatest threat to Vučić since he took office as Prime Minister in 2014, then as President in 2017. An article published before the vote spoke of a quasi-"referendum for or against one man," and recalled that Vučić had left the presidency on September 27 to run for the post of head of government.

The Danish account gives a voice to the victorious camp. Radomir Sajčić, a professor at the University of Belgrade and spokesperson for the movement, says: "Tonight, we celebrate the victory. Tomorrow, we build the future." Reuters, cited by Politiken, describes cars honking in the streets of Belgrade and residents shouting "victory" and "he's finished." Turnout is approaching 70%, which would be the highest since the breakup of Yugoslavia, according to Reuters.

The articles leave one question open: it is not yet known who, within the student movement, could lead Serbia. The coverage remains factual and focused on the result and its social roots; it barely touches on the consequences for Belgrade's foreign policy.

Madrid, October 26, 2026. For the Spanish press, the vote on Sunday, October 25, is first and foremost that of a citizen movement that prevails over a strongman. ElDiario.es headlines with a "student movement" that "puts an end to Vucic's 12-year authoritarian rule" and describes a leader who has "led" Serbia "down the path of authoritarianism".

HuffPost España reports that Vučić acknowledged his defeat to his supporters in Belgrade before the end of the official count: "It's clear that we've lost these elections. The Student List has won," quoting RTVE. According to his own estimates, his opponents would obtain between 135 and 140 seats compared to 105 for his bloc, in a 250-deputy chamber where the absolute majority is set at 126. ElDiario.es relays the Ipsos/CeSID projection: 52% for the Student List against 39.3% for Vučić's list, or 138 seats against 104. The second HuffPost coverage speaks of a "major setback in his trajectory" since he took the helm of the government in 2014, then the presidency in 2017.

Turnout occupies a central place: 68% an hour before closing, about 13 points more than in the previous election, according to the CRTA observatory cited by EFE. The historical record remains the 71.5% of 2000. ElDiario.es reads this as an indicator of mobilization against the nationalist leader.

The Spanish narrative does not overlook the irregularities. According to CRTA, voters were photographed with their ballots in 25% of the observed polling stations, which could signal pressure, and an irregularity was noted in 29% of the centers. In Pančevo, hooded men allegedly attacked delegates from the Student List, according to radio 021. However, the president of the electoral commission, Vladimir Dimitrijević, judges that the vote is taking place normally in most polling stations.

The sources also trace the genealogy of the movement: the collapse of the Novi Sad train station canopy in November 2024, then nearly two years of mobilization against corruption and authoritarianism, extended beyond universities. Analyst Nemanja Štiplija, interviewed by ElDiario.es, sees "electoral conditions among the most difficult" in Serbian multiparty history, which the students have transformed into a "clear parliamentary majority". The framework remains national: the formation of the next government and Vučić's fate, while Belgrade's European or Russian orientation does not appear in these texts.

Helsinki, October 26, 2026. The Finnish press is treating Aleksandar Vučić's defeat as the culmination of a civic movement. On election day, Helsingin Sanomat saw it as a test of the Serbian Progressive Party's (SNS) ability to extend its 14-year grip, deemed "increasingly authoritarian," and recalled that protests had begun in November 2024, when the canopy of Novi Sad's train station collapsed, killing 16 people. The newspaper notes that the movement organized the largest protests in Serbia since the fall of Slobodan Milošević and that its list consists mainly of researchers and teachers without political experience, who promise to restore the rule of law and strengthen institutions.

On Sunday, October 25, Ilta-Sanomat and Yle reported Vučić's concession of defeat shortly after the polls closed. MTV Uutiset quoted Vučić: the final results are still pending, but "it is clear that we have lost," with the student list winning 135 to 140 seats against around 105 for the SNS, and no other party in Parliament. Ilta-Sanomat emphasized the surprise effect, with polls showing both camps tied at over 40%, and described Belgrade as flooded with honking cars and chants of "Aleksandar is gone." The movement proclaimed: "Serbia is free."

Finnish media also detailed the mobilization. MTV, citing Reuters and the BBC, reported a turnout of 64.9% at 6 pm and 67.6% at 7 pm, the highest since 1992 and the breakup of Yugoslavia. Yle, through its correspondent Hanna Visala, mentioned hundreds of meters of lines, riot police and armored vehicles deployed in Belgrade, two journalists hospitalized after an assault, and attacks on poll workers; in Leskovac, a polling station reopened until 11 pm after a brawl.

Ilta-Sanomat reported, according to the AP, that Vučić attributed the result to independent media and attempts by Europe and the United States to exert influence. The newspaper noted that the movement deliberately has no single leader, so the name of the future Prime Minister remains uncertain, with Serbs voting for a list and not a person. Vučić, who resigned as president in September, was himself aiming for this position. The account remains factual and focused on the change in power, without developing relations with Brussels or Moscow.

Paris, October 26, 2026. The French press is telling the story of an unexpected shift in power. On Sunday, October 25, Aleksandar Vucic, the "dominant figure in Serbian politics for fourteen years" according to Le Monde, conceded defeat in the early legislative elections: "It is clear that we have lost these elections," he told his supporters. He himself estimated the result: "between 135 and 140 seats" for the student movement and 105 for his camp (France 24). L'Obs cites a projection from the CeSID institute: 52.1% of the votes for the student list against 39.3%.

The headlines emphasize the extent of the mobilization. At 6 pm, participation was approaching 65%, the highest in over thirty years; RFI mentions more than 69% according to the first projections. Le Monde recalls that the last strong mobilization, of around 70%, dated back to the ousting of Slobodan Milosevic in 2000. Presented by the students as an "anti-Vucic referendum," the election was the first since 2012 to offer a possibility of alternation to 6.4 million voters.

The story goes back to its origin: the collapse of the canopy at the Novi Sad train station on November 1, 2024, which killed sixteen people. HuffPost sees it as the Serbian symbol of corruption; Le Monde adds that the efforts to conceal evidence and the initial police brutality widened the mobilization. L'Express recalled the day before that Vucic, prevented by the Constitution from seeking a third term, had resigned from the presidency on September 27 to aim for the post of prime minister.

The street scene, relayed by the AFP, occupies a central place: car horns, colored balloons, a student in tears affirming "I feel like I'm finally living in a free country." Ilija Srdanovic, the head of the list, launches: "We will never again have a tyrant in this country." RFI, from Vucic's headquarters, notes that the room was emptying.

Le Monde also reports the reaction of the person concerned, who speaks of "the consolidation of a revolution" carried out with the support of European countries and the "American deep state." The newspaper places the fall in a series: Vucic, an admirer of Orbán, falls six months after his Hungarian ally, and the Socialist Party, founded by Milosevic, appears to be leaving the Assembly for the first time in thirty-six years. The CRTA reported "a significant number of irregularities and incidents," without major confirmed violence by the authorities (Sud Ouest).

Budapest, October 26, 2026. The Hungarian press followed the Serbian election on Sunday, October 25, hour by hour. Index published a minute-by-minute feed of the official results from the RIK commission: at 21:15, Vučić's list was leading with 54.21%, then the gap reversed as the count continued, with the Student List taking the lead around 22:45. HVG, with two correspondents in Belgrade, reported that Vučić acknowledged his defeat shortly before 21:30 and reprinted the Ipsos/CeSID projection broadcast by N1: 52% for the students against 39.3%, or 138 seats to 104, with a majority set at 126.

Telex and 444 emphasized participation: nearly 68% at 19:00 according to Telex, over 69% at 20:00 according to 444, compared to 55% three years earlier. Index cited the CRTA, which deemed this rate "rekordmagas" and placed it among the highest since 2000, the year of Milošević's fall. HVG also relayed the observers: pressure in 29% of the polling stations monitored by the CRTA, suspicions of vote-buying, and over two hundred reports received by CeSID.

Vučić's speech was detailed. Telex noted that he acknowledged defeat about an hour and a half after the close, but spoke about the winners in a way that made his supporters feel that Serbia was in danger. 444 quoted his phrase: the winners are only "executors" of a dirty job designed elsewhere "to destroy a sovereign country," and he announced sanctions against Russia in March or April. He also claimed the votes of Serbs from Montenegro, North Macedonia, and the Republika Srpska. The only other elected officials mentioned were the three deputies of the Alliance of Hungarians of Vojvodina, one Albanian seat, and one Bosnian seat, according to 444.

The national angle was clear. Prime Minister Péter Magyar commented on Facebook: "Ismerős?" (Does it ring a bell?), drawing a parallel with the Tisza victory in April, and then congratulated the leaders of the list by phone, assuring them of Hungary's support. Telex reported that the head of the list, Ilija Srdanović, a cardiologist, said he was encouraged by the Hungarian vote and aimed for good neighborly relations. Economist Dejan Šoškić, former governor of the central bank, told 444 that the climate resembled that before the change of regime in Hungary. HVG recalled the origin of the movement: the collapse of the canopy of the Novi Sad train station, which killed 16 people.

Rome, October 26, 2026. The Italian press is highlighting the upset: "Students win elections in Serbia, defeated Vucic announces," ANSA headlines, while Adnkronos talks about a student list that "makes history." Both agencies are relying on the provisional projections from Sunday, October 25, which, according to ANSA, are unlikely to change substantially.

The numbers are being repeated identically: 52% of the votes and 138 seats out of 250 for the Student List, compared to around 39% and 104 seats for Aleksandar Vucic's list. Adnkronos cites the Ipsos/CeSid projections relayed by the N1 channel and notes that the majority is at 126 seats. No other coalition has crossed the 3% threshold, except for small ethnic minority parties.

The narrative is one of surprise. According to ANSA, Vucic appeared first live on RTS television to announce that he had "lost the elections," whereas his appearance had raised fears of a victory declaration. The agency also reports that he judged the student campaign "scorretta e piena di menzogne" (wrong and full of lies), while recognizing "la vittoria degli studenti" (the students' victory). Candidate Radomir Sajcic sees the result as one that "rewards almost two years of struggle," and the head of the list, cardiologist Ilija Srdjanovic, claims that the country has "turned its back on a tyrant."

The origin of the movement is detailed by Adnkronos: the collapse of the Novi Sad train station canopy in 2024, which killed 16 people, a tragedy attributed to corruption and the origin of the largest protests since the fall of Slobodan Milosevic in 2000. Most of the 250 student candidates come from the university and the art world, with little political experience, and several opposition parties have given up running to support the students.

The participation factor is being highlighted: a record turnout of nearly 70%, unseen in at least thirty years, which commentators judged favorable to the students. ANSA describes the celebrations in the streets of the country live on television, but also a tense climate in the center of Belgrade, with significant police deployments after the polls closed.

The international dimension remains discreet: Adnkronos notes only that Vucic had presented himself as an indispensable statesman, "in bilico tra l'Unione Europea e la Russia" (balanced between the European Union and Russia), and that he had called the early elections citing "strong turbulence on the domestic political scene."

Vilnius, October 26, 2026. Lithuanian media are portraying the Serbian vote on Sunday, October 25, as a "decisive showdown" between Aleksandar Vučić, described as an "authoritarian leader," and a diverse student movement that has been protesting for nearly two years. 15min recalls the origin of the crisis: the collapse in 2024 of the canopy of the Novi Sad train station, which killed 16 people and for which corruption is widely blamed. The newspaper talks about one of the largest waves of protest in Serbia since the fall of Slobodan Milošević in 2000.

Before the vote, 15min described the Student List, supported by a movement without a clear leader, as the greatest challenge to the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), which dominates under its governance. Eighteen lists were vying for 250 seats, and several major opposition parties had given up running to call for voting for the students. The last meeting, on Thursday in Belgrade, reportedly drew around 150,000 people, according to an independent observer cited by the newspaper.

The account of the evening is based on Vučić's admission: "According to the stratified sample, it is clear that we have lost these elections," he told supporters at his party's headquarters in Belgrade. He estimated the Student List at 135-140 seats and the SNS at around 105, or 2.2 million votes against 1.7 million. Verslo žinios and 15min note that the turnout, at 64.89% at 6 pm according to the electoral commission, is the highest since 1993.

The two newspapers then describe the reaction on the street: jubilant crowds near the electoral commission, car horns, and at the Student List's headquarters, supporters who applaud, cry, and chant "Victory, victory!" A student, Mila Martič, tells AFP: "I feel like I'm finally living in a free country."

Lithuanian media also report on Vučić's own reading of the situation: he blames his defeat on independent Serbian media, unnamed European countries, and "American depth," under the heading "He accuses the media and European countries." These accusations are presented as statements, without commentary on Lithuanian diplomacy or the future European orientation of Belgrade.

Katmandou, 26 October 2026. Nepal's press is telling the story of Aleksandar Vučić's downfall as a victory for the youth. Online Khabar writes that the 14-year reign of the right-wing leader and former president "has collapsed": according to preliminary results, the Student List has won more than 135 seats out of 250, compared to 105 for the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) coalition. The site notes a turnout of around 70%, the highest since 2000, according to its text, and Vučić has acknowledged his party's defeat.

The story dates back to the collapse of the Novi Sad train station canopy in November 2024, which killed 16 people. Students from all over the country took to the streets, denouncing corruption, cronyism, and poor construction quality. The movement, born out of a demand for accountability, became an electoral front without a traditional political leader: teachers, artists, athletes, and farmers, led by cardiologist Ilija Srdanović.

The Kathmandu Post, which picks up a Reuters dispatch, describes tens of thousands of people in the avenues of Belgrade, trams and traffic at a standstill, smoke bombs and flares. It evokes a two-year peaceful movement demanding Vučić's departure, who disputes corruption allegations. It compares these scenes to those of a month of sometimes violent student protests in European cities. A participant, Nebojsa Cosic, exclaims: "The people have defeated a dictator!"

Both newspapers emphasize the unexpected nature of the winners: unknown candidates, often lawyers, teachers, actors, or farmers, who hugged each other "almost incredulous" at their headquarters. Online Khabar reports the slogans "Aleksandar is gone!" and "He's finished!", a cry reminiscent of Slobodan Milošević's fall in 2000. The Post notes that Serbia has around six million inhabitants and that, as early as Monday, these candidates will have to move from the streets to the exercise of power.

Neither of the two texts details Vučić's explanations about the media or foreign interference, nor the European or Russian orientation of the future government: attention is focused on the mobilization and the power of a generation capable of channeling widespread discontent.

Warsaw, October 26, 2026. Polish media are covering the Serbian election on Sunday, October 25, as a historic turning point. Rzeczpospolita headlines with "the former president of Serbia" who "admits his defeat", and quotes his phrase: "The Student List has won". RMF24 reports that Aleksandar Vučić, the head of the "United Serbia" list, stated: "Based on a stratified sample, it is clear that we have lost these elections", adding that he was "used to acting in opposition" and that "many have lied".

Turnout is a central issue. Rzeczpospolita relays the figures from CeSID, 67.6% at 7 pm, and from the electoral commission (RIK), 64.89% at 6 pm out of approximately 6.5 million registered voters. RMF24 talks about nearly 70%, the highest level since the breakup of Yugoslavia in 1992, and sees it as proof of a "general desire for change". Voters interviewed by PAP came with their own pens for fear of fraud, one of them judging that a victory for the government would mean "that the votes have been falsified".

Detailed results are featured in a second RMF24 article: the Student List would have exceeded half of the votes and obtained 140 seats, compared to 103 and 38.8% for Vučić's list. Other formations, including that of Ivica Dačić, did not cross the threshold; only national minority lists are still entering Parliament.

The media recalls the origin of the movement: the collapse of part of the roof of the Novi Sad train station on November 1, 2024, which killed 16 people, and nearly two years of protests against corruption and negligence attributed to the authorities. The students, who presented a list of 250 people from various professions, are described as the head of the change.

The European echo is highlighted. According to RMF24, Antonio Costa and Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the democratic maturity of the Serbs and offered their support for reforms on the rule of law, media freedom, and corruption. Commissioner Marta Kos stated: "The EU's doors are open". Hungarian Péter Magyar and Montenegrin leaders also congratulated Belgrade. Prior to the vote, RMF24 mentioned 260 reports of irregularities from CeSID and the concern of EU Ambassador Andreas von Beckerath in the face of violence.

Bucharest, October 26, 2026. The Romanian press, from Mediafax to Digi24 and G4Media, reports on Aleksandar Vučić's defeat as a historic turning point for Serbia. On Sunday, October 25, the leader acknowledged: "We do not yet have the final results, but based on a sample, it is clear that we have lost these elections. The Student List has won." He himself quantified the balance of power: between 135 and 140 seats out of 250 for the Student List, around 105 for the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), the absolute majority being set at 126. Mediafax notes that this score would allow the students to form a government on their own, while specifying that the official results were not yet known.

G4Media relays an Ipsos/CeSID projection that gives 52% of the votes and 138 seats to the Student List, against 39.3% and 104 seats to "United Serbia", Vučić's list. The media outlet recalls that he accused his rivals of lies in his speech and again suggested a form of foreign interference. Digi24 highlights a participation rate well above expectations, 41% at mid-day, 14 points more than in the previous election, and recalls that Vučić had promised to accept defeat in the event of failure.

The articles put the vote into perspective: the collapse of the Novi Sad train station canopy on November 1, 2024, which killed 16 people, triggered nearly two years of protests against corruption and the opacity of public contracts. Mediafax describes the Student List as a decentralized movement, without a leader, whose list is headed by a cardiologist and includes professors, doctors, actors, and farmers. Digi24 sees it as "the greatest threat" to Vučić since his arrival as Prime Minister in 2014.

The street occupies a notable place: G4Media, citing Agerpres and AFP, describes horns and crowds in Belgrade, and reports the phrase of Ilija Srdanović, from the Student List: "We will never again have a tyrant in this country." A local angle also appears: according to the BBC, as reported by G4Media, dubious electoral advertisements on Facebook involved a company from Craiova that had already worked for Victor Ponta, with 56 pages and at least 91 ads, of which Meta removed 47.

Belgrade, October 26, 2026. The Serbian press, from Blic to Politika, including the Beta agency and N1, reports on an election whose result was acknowledged by the loser himself. On Sunday, October 25, during the early legislative elections, Aleksandar Vučić, the head of the "Aleksandar Vučić - Ujedinjena Srbija" list, stated that it was "jasno da su izbori izgubljeni": the Student List would have between 135 and 140 seats, his camp around 105. He estimated the votes at around 1,720,000 for his own list and 2,200,000 for his opponents, specifying that he was relying on a stratified sample.

Estimates are circulating quickly. According to Blic, CeSID gives 53% and 139 seats to the Student List, 39.3% and 104 seats to Ujedinjena Srbija, and 2.3% to Ivica Dačić's list. Beta reports the preliminary results of the Crta organization: 51.47% against 40.42%. N1 highlights a record turnout, 46.4% at 2 pm compared to 32.2% in December 2023, and the presidency of the electoral commission mentions minor incidents.

Vučić's tone is reported without filter. Politika quotes his promise to fight "as opposition" and his refusal to block the verification of seats: the Assembly can be constituted "in 10 to 15 days" and a government formed, which he predicts will be composed of experts. He also talks about the lies of his opponents and says he expects lawsuits in the sonic cannon case. Beta shows him singing "Ruzmarin" with SNS cadres.

On the winner's side, Radomir Saičić, a candidate from the Student List, mentions "the victory of courage over fear" and calls for calm celebrations. N1 and Beta describe festivities in Belgrade, Niš, Kraljevo, Kragujevac, and Smederevo. Politika gives the floor to the Commissioner for Equality, Milan Antonijević, who believes that the peaceful conduct of the election shows the country's "democratic potential"; he expects the new government to provide answers on the rule of law, Kosovo, Russia, the United States, and China.

The external view occupies a notable place. Beta summarizes the New York Times: few differences between Vučić and the Student List on Kosovo, Russia, and the EU. N1 relays congratulations from Antonio Costa, who promises support for reforms on the rule of law and media freedom, from Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajić, and from a Republican American elected official, as well as the Italian press talking about a "historic" victory.

Moscow, October 26, 2026. The Russian press reports on Aleksandar Vučić's defeat, immediately linking it to Belgrade's foreign policy. RIA Novosti, citing his speech at the headquarters of his movement, reports: "It is clear that we have lost these elections, the Student List has beaten us." According to him, they will have 135 to 140 seats, compared to around 105 for his "Serbia United" coalition, and no one else will enter the Skupština. Interfax and Vedomosti relay the same statement, emphasizing that the final results are not yet known. RT notes that Vučić did not specify the source of his estimates, which he linked to a stratified sample.

The common thread is the future of relations with Moscow. TASS and RIA repeat Vučić's warning: he fears that sanctions against Russia will be adopted "in March or April" and that the new leaders will do "everything we didn't want". He attributes the adverse victory to direct support from European countries and the American "deep state", the faction opposed to Donald Trump. TASS adds that the Student List had previously stated that it rejects anti-Russian sanctions. On the morning of the vote, Sputnik quoted Vučić hoping for strengthened cooperation with Russia and welcoming the support expressed by Vladimir Putin and Robert Fico.

The political tone hardens in the commentary. Senator Sergei Perminov, a member of the observation mission of the Interparliamentary Assembly of the CIS, tells RIA that Vučić's opponents used the vote to enlist Belgrade in the Western camp, with the support of Brussels. He believes that abandoning the traditions of Russian-Serbian cooperation would be "undesirable for many in Serbia".

The domestic context is treated more briefly. TASS and RT recall that the student movement was born out of the collapse of the Novi Sad train station canopy in November 2024, which killed 16 people. RT mentions the suspicions of corruption and security control failures that followed. Meduza, a Russian-language media outlet in exile, describes chants, horns, and residents on balconies celebrating the victory across the country, according to Danas, and notes that the list was formally constituted just over a month earlier. RT also reports Vučić's resignation on September 27, a turnout of 64.89% two hours before the closing, and an Ipsos poll giving 47% to the outgoing coalition and 40% to the students.

Stockholm, October 26, 2026. The Swedish press is reporting on Aleksandar Vučić's defeat as a turning point after fourteen years of power. Aftonbladet headlines a "crushing victory" ("Jordskredsseger") and details the outcome: polling stations closed at 8 pm Swedish time, and shortly after 9:30 pm, the leader and his Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) conceded their defeat. "We do not yet have the final results, but based on a sample, it is clear that we have lost the election," Vučić says, as quoted by the daily, which recalls that he has been leading the country since 2012.

The same article cites a projection by Ipsos/CeSID relayed by The Guardian: 52% for the Student List against 39.3% for the SNS, which translates to 138 seats, twelve more than the absolute majority. Aftonbladet also quotes Reuters on the highest voter turnout in 34 years. Dagens Nyheter, in a shorter article behind its paywall, notes that Vučić and his party "acknowledge their defeat" to the opposition movement from the streets, and talks about a power lost to the student mobilization.

Sveriges Radio had set the stage on election day. The public service described the legislative elections after two years of protests, where the Student List had a chance to win, but in an "unequal" campaign since Vučić controls important television channels and newspapers. It reported that several students had discovered the Pegasus spy software on their phones, which the government denies. Politologist Jelisaveta Blagojević explained that Vučić still has support among public officials, while the Student List's supporters want change.

The origin of the movement is briefly recalled: sixteen people died when the roof of a renovated train station in Novi Sad collapsed two years ago, which sparked protests against the government. The Student List, led by students without political experience, wants to reform the country and accuses the authorities of corruption.

The European dimension appears through a single voice: the EU ambassador to Serbia, Andreas von Beckerath, said on X that he is "deeply concerned" about violent incidents reported in several polling stations, calling for voting in a "peaceful and safe" climate. The lines were long, notes Aftonbladet. The Swedish account remains focused on Serbian domestic politics: the fall of a strongman, the solidity of the victory, and the fairness of the election.

Ankara, October 26, 2026. The Turkish press presents Aleksandar Vučić's defeat as a turning point in Serbian domestic politics. On Sunday, October 25, during the early legislative elections, he stated to the press, according to Cumhuriyet: "Kaybettik, durum bu" ("We have lost, that's how it is"). He estimated the Student List at around 135 seats versus 105 for his camp, or approximately 2.2 million votes against 1.72 million.

Turkish media recall the origin of the movement: the collapse, on November 1, 2024, of the concrete canopy of the Novi Sad train station, which killed 16 people. BBC Türkçe, under the pen of Paul Kirby, sees it as a symbol of corruption and negligence. The site describes a list without an identifiable leader, with candidates from all walks of society, led by cardiologist İlija Srdanović, and supported by the withdrawal of several opposition parties. It also reports concerns about the fairness of the vote: 18 lists, with only seven presenting 250 candidates.

The Anadolu Agency sticks to the procedural register: closure of offices at 8 pm, 67.6% participation at 7 pm according to Ipsos and CeSID, or 8.83 points more than the 58.77% of December 2023, and mention of reports of irregularities. It details the legal calendar: consolidated report from the electoral commission within 96 hours, Assembly constituted within 30 days, government formed within 90 days.

Bianet, which picks up the information from Anadolu, emphasizes that Vučić, who resigned from the presidency to run for the post of Prime Minister, recognized the victory of the Student List while asserting that the result was the product of a process supported from abroad, and promising to continue the fight in opposition. The site quotes academic Radomir Saičić, who spoke on behalf of the winners to thank voters and announce the construction of the future. It notes that the way this movement, foreign to the organization of classical parties, will translate its success into a program and mode of government remains uncertain.

The durations vary according to the titles: BBC and Bianet mention twelve years of power, Cumhuriyet specifies twelve years at the head of the executive and fourteen years for the Serbian Progressive Party.

Kyiv, October 26, 2026. The Ukrainian press reports on Aleksandar Vučić's admission of defeat following Sunday's early legislative elections on October 25. Ukrinform, citing Reuters, quotes his words spoken after the polling stations closed: "It is clear that we have lost these elections, the Student List has won."

According to these preliminary projections, the students would obtain between 135 and 140 seats out of 250, compared to 105 for the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS). NV Ukraine, for its part, relays the forecast from the Center for Free Elections and Democracy (CeSID) and Ipsos: 52.9% of the votes for the Student List, 38.8% for the former president's party, referred to as "United Serbia". The compiled articles do not report any official reaction from Kyiv at this stage.

Kyiv Post puts the election into perspective: the death of 16 people in the collapse of the canopy of the Novi Sad train station in 2024, followed by nearly two years of protests against perceived corruption and "rampant authoritarianism". The newspaper notes unusually long lines in Belgrade and Novi Sad from the opening at 7 am, and quotes Ana, 30 years old: "I came early because the students called us."

The same media sees an echo of Viktor Orbán's defeat in Hungary in April, and a possible "model" for other European student movements. However, it recalls that Vučić is a solid incumbent: many voters thank him for having pulled Serbia out of economic darkness, with new highways, railways, schools, and hospitals.

Before the vote, NV Ukraine headlined "Putin's last friend", immediately framing the election in the context of Moscow's neighborhood. Ukrinform recalls Vučić's career: Prime Minister in 2014, President since May 31, 2017, re-elected in April 2022, and then resigned at the end of September to run for the position of Prime Minister. The available texts do not yet detail what the change in majority would imply for Belgrade's position towards the European Union or Russia, nor the composition of the future government.

London, 26 October 2026. The British press is talking about a "seismic political shift" in the Balkans: on Sunday, 25 October, Aleksandar Vučić acknowledged the defeat of his Serbian Progressive Party against the Student List in early legislative elections. The Daily Mail describes a vote that became a referendum between the SNS, described as right-wing, and the Student List, led by cardiologist Ilija Srdanovic. The newspaper recalls that Vučić, supported by Vladimir Putin, denounced the student movement as a foreign-led attempt to oust him, and that he has ruled the country with "virtually absolute" power for fourteen years.

The BBC, in a continuously updated dispatch, quotes the leader: "it is clear that we have lost these elections". It presents him as a right-wing populist and long-time leader, recalls that the crisis was born out of the collapse in 2024 of the Novi Sad train station canopy, which killed 16 people and symbolized corruption and negligence, and notes a record turnout.

The Independent emphasizes the entry into a new era: participation close to 70%, the highest since the breakup of Yugoslavia in 1992, long lines in front of polling stations, streets of Belgrade in jubilation where students chant "victory" and "he's finished". It quotes Radomir Sajcic, a professor at the University of Belgrade: "Tonight we celebrate the victory, tomorrow we build the future." The daily newspaper links nearly two years of protests to accusations of corruption and authoritarian drift.

The figures are Vučić's own, based on preliminary results: between 135 and 140 seats for the Student List, 105 for the SNS, with no other party entering Parliament. The Daily Mail notes that he attributed the defeat to independent media, interference from unnamed European countries, and a "deep American state", while calling on his supporters to avoid "deaths" in the street.

The British coverage remains focused on the fall of a strongman and the political transition, rather than on the consequences for Belgrade's European or Russian orientation, which the three articles barely address beyond Putin's stated support for Vučić.

The United States government is taking note of the news that on Sunday, October 25, Aleksandar Vučić, presented as a "strongman" with "virtually absolute" power for 14 years, acknowledged his defeat to a movement led by students, who had been protesting against his government for two years. He announced that the Student List would obtain between 135 and 140 seats out of 250, compared to around 105 for his Serbian Progressive Party, or around 2.2 million votes against 1.7 million. "The Student List has won," he said, about an hour and a half after the polling stations closed.

The reports highlight the context: a highly contested election, with high participation, students accusing the government of corruption and dismantling democracy, and a leader supported by Vladimir Putin who denounced the movement as a foreign-led attempt at overthrow. Vučić attributed his defeat to independent media, alleged interference from unnamed European countries, and an "American deep state". In the streets of Belgrade and other cities, the crowd honked horns and chanted "Aleksandar is gone".

Axios provides the most Washington-focused analysis. The site writes that this historic upheaval removes a strongman from the Balkans who had courted the family and allies of President Trump, including Donald Trump Jr. and Richard Grenell, while a real estate project linked to Jared Kushner had been at the center of controversy. It raises questions about future American relations with a country that has balanced its ties between Russia and the West, and estimates that the victory could pave the way for democratic reforms.

Axios also recalls the origin of the movement: the collapse, in November 2024, of the canopy of the Novi Sad train station, which killed 16 people, and its evolution into an electoral force with decentralized leadership, with cardiologist Ilija Srdanović as the head of the list. The site compares the result to the student movement that contributed to the ousting of Slobodan Milošević in 2000, with the return of the cry "He's finished!". NBC News broadcasts a video of the jubilation, evoking two years of peaceful protest. Axios specifies that the official results had not yet been announced.