Written by Duko Goedegebuure
Photo: Election rally of the “Studentska lista – Studenti pobeđuju” (Student List – Students Win) in Serbia, ahead of the snap parliamentary elections.Photo source
On Sunday evening, events suddenly moved very quickly. At around 9:30 p.m., Aleksandar Vučić announced that his party had lost the election and that the student list had won a majority in the Serbian parliament. Celebrations erupted in the streets of Belgrade. After almost two years of mass protests against corruption, repression and democratic backsliding, the students had succeeded in defeating the regime.
In the third and final instalment of this series, we analyse the student list’s historic election victory. How did a peaceful protest movement manage to bring about political change after years of democratic decline? And what does this victory mean for the future of Serbia and for other protest movements?
From the streets to parliament
According to the preliminary election results, the student list won almost 54 per cent of the vote and secured 141 of the 250 seats. Vučić’s SNS won 103 seats with approximately 40 per cent of the vote. This landslide victory brings an end to the regime’s long-standing political dominance and repression.preliminary election results
Turnout was unprecedentedly high, at approximately 69 per cent. Never before had so many Serbian citizens turned out to vote in such large numbers.Never before had so many Serbian citizens turned out to vote In practice, however, turnout is even higher. This is because the electoral registers are not up to date. It is inspiring that the students have managed to bring young people and citizens who previously had little faith in change or politics to the ballot box.
A non-violent movement
Even after almost two years of repression, intimidation and suppression, the student list managed to remain committed to peaceful resistance. The Vučić government tried to suppress and discredit the protest movement in various ways.The Vučić government tried to suppress the protest movement in various ways Peaceful demonstrators were arrested and detained, critical professors were not paid their salaries, and the students were portrayed negatively in the state-controlled media.
Nevertheless, the students continued to adhere to their peaceful strategy. Rather than responding with violence, they continued to demonstrate, thereby mobilising an ever-growing number of Serbians. In doing so, they prevented the regime from using violence as a justification for suppressing the protests even further.
It was precisely this peaceful perseverance that proved to be an essential strength of the student movement. By refusing to take Vučić’s provocations, the students managed to maintain their credibility. As a result, they gained increasing support across wider sections of Serbian society.
The difficult next step
Yet Vučić’s departure does not mean that Serbia will suddenly become a well-functioning democracy overnight. After years in which the governing party gained ever-greater control over state institutions, the judiciary and the media, the student list faces an enormous challenge. We have already seen how difficult this can be in Poland and, more recently, Hungary.
Restoring independent institutions, tackling corruption and strengthening the rule of law will take time. Moreover, the student list consists of candidates with a wide range of political convictions. Until now, they have been able to unite in their opposition to Vučić; from now on, they will have to make joint decisions about Serbia’s future.
In addition to forming a government and appointing a prime minister, the student list will soon face another test: a new president must also be elected by 25 December 2026 at the latest.a new president must also be elected by 25 December 2026 at the latest
A movement that inspires?
The significance of these elections may extend beyond Serbia’s borders. In a world where democratic backsliding is taking place in an increasing number of countries, the student list has shown that democratic change is possible.
Despite provocations, police violence and smear campaigns, the students in Serbia continued peacefully. By fighting corruption and advocating a democratic future, they gradually gained more and more support. Ultimately, like Péter Magyar, the student list has shown that democratic change remains possible even in an electoral autocracy.
In countries such as Albania and Georgia, young people have also recently taken to the streets in large numbers to protest against corruption and political leaders. Although the political circumstances differ, the victory in Serbia could be an important source of inspiration for these movements, and perhaps even a blueprint for change.
The first step has been taken. Whether the student list will succeed in making Serbia a fully-fledged democracy again remains to be seen. For now, however, the election result offers hope across the Western Balkans.
