DOMINANT ANGLE
Warsaw sees the end of an era in Belgrade: the Polish press describes Aleksandar Vučić's defeat as an electoral earthquake, driven by record turnout and hailed by Europe.
Dominant angle identified — does not reflect unanimity of this country’s media
KEY POINTS
- 01
Vučić stated: "Based on a stratified sample, it is clear that we have lost these elections," with the Student List obtaining 135 to 140 seats out of 250 (RMF24).
- 02
Turnout close to 70%, the highest since the breakup of Yugoslavia in 1992 (RMF24); 64.89% by 18:00 according to the RIK (Rzeczpospolita).
- 03
According to RMF24, Vučić's list gathers 38.8% and 103 seats, while Costa, von der Leyen, and Marta Kos welcome the result.
ANALYSIS
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.
SOURCES (2)
- RMF24MEDIUM
