Vucic concedes defeat in Serbian elections after fourteen years in power

Serbs turned out in large numbers for Sunday's snap parliamentary elections on October 25th. According to the electoral commission, voter participation stood at nearly 35 per cent by noon, compared with 21 per cent at the same time in the previous 2023 ballot. By 6 p.m., turnout had reached 64.89 per cent, the highest since 1993—more than thirty years ago.

The ballot was framed by protesters as an "anti-Vucic referendum". The student movement has organised demonstrations across the country for two years, challenging the nationalist leader who has dominated Serbian politics for fourteen years. Aleksandar Vucic had resigned from his position as president the previous month before announcing the snap elections.

On Sunday evening, Vucic acknowledged his defeat. "It is clear that we have lost these elections," he said, bowing to the list headed by the student movement. According to multiple sources, the nationalist leader admitted that the student movement had won.

Enthusiastic reactions greeted the announcement. La Libre Belgique reported an "explosion of joy in Belgrade" following the recognition of defeat. At the same time, according to Le Temps, riot police deployed across the capital and tensions ran high as the day drew to a close.

The ballot took place against a backdrop of concern over democratic standards. Le Monde had noted before the vote that despite Vucic's excessive use of administrative resources to win this contested election, the outgoing president appeared in a precarious position. Civil society feared he might resort to force in the event of defeat.

This exceptional voter mobilisation marked a turning point after years of protest led by the student movement against the leader who had held power for fourteen years.