Germany

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.