Preliminary results showed a record voter turnout of 64.9% by 6 p.m. local time, the highest since the breakup of Yugoslavia in 1992. In Belgrade and other cities, supporters of the Students’ List celebrated with fireworks, honking horns, and chanting “Aleksandar is gone.” Crowds dismantled tents and fences at a central Belgrade park where Vucic’s supporters had camped for over a year.

The election was marked by high tensions, with police in anti-riot gear surrounding the election commission headquarters. The Centre for Research, Transparency and Accountability (CRTA) reported pressure on voters or election workers at nearly a third of the 500 polling stations it monitored. The Centre for Free Elections and Democracy (CeSID) received about 260 reports of irregularities, including ballot photography and group voting.

The Students’ List, formed in response to the 2024 train station collapse that killed 16 people, fielded candidates from diverse backgrounds, including doctors, athletes, farmers, and artists. “Students won, and with them also a hope that Serbia can be a country of justice, freedom and dignity,” said Radomir Saicic, a parliamentary candidate for the movement.

Vucic, who governed Serbia since 2012, was known for his populist nationalism and close ties to Russia. He had resisted calls for sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine and was endorsed by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Vucic resigned as president in September to run for prime minister in the snap election.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen congratulated the Students’ List, stating the EU stands ready to support reforms on the rule of law and the fight against corruption.

Emotional reactions underscored the significance of the election. Dijana Hrka, the mother of one of the 2024 train station collapse victims, said she had been waiting for this moment for two years and now expects those responsible to be held accountable.

Vucic made his concession announcement just over an hour and a half after polls closed, acknowledging the Students’ List had won a decisive victory. His political future remains uncertain.