DOMINANT ANGLE
Belgrade is recording the end of the Vučić era in the loser's own words: the Serbian press is highlighting the tally of his defeat, the announced parliamentary transition, and the power reshuffle.
Dominant angle identified — does not reflect unanimity of this country’s media
KEY POINTS
- 01
Vučić stated that the Student List would have between 135 and 140 seats compared to about 105 for his camp, which translates to 2,200,000 votes against 1,720,000 according to his sample.
- 02
Crta gives 51.47% to the Student List and 40.42% to Vučić's list; CeSID reports 53% and 139 seats versus 39.3% and 104 seats.
- 03
Vučić claims that his group will not hinder the formation of Parliament, which could convene within 10 to 15 days to form a government.
ANALYSIS
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.
