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    Student List Movement Defeats Vucic Ruling Party in Serbia Snap Parliamentary Election

    Section editor: ·High22 articles covering this·11 news sources·Updated 2 hours ago·World
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    Minimalist graphic showing parliamentary majority seat count for the Serbia snap election 2026.

    What happened

    On October 25, 2026, the student-led "Student List" secured a projected parliamentary majority in Serbia's snap elections, prompting President Aleksandar Vucic to concede after 14 years in power.

    The Context

    • Catalyst for change: Protests originated after a November 2024 train station canopy collapse in Novi Sad claimed 16 lives, sparking public outrage over public project transparency.
    • Grassroots mobilization: Over two years, student blockades scaled into nationwide rallies, fielding non-politician candidates including academics, doctors, and artists for the October snap election.
    • Peaceful transfer: With preliminary results securing the opposition 135 to 140 seats against his party's 105, Vucic conceded power, paving the way for a newly formed coalition government.

    The Number

    135–140

    — The projected seat count won by the Student List out of 250 parliamentary seats, delivering an outright governing majority to a non-traditional political coalition.

    Takeaway

    Expect initial market volatility across Balkan assets as the incoming administration transitions from protest governance to implementing anti-corruption policies and European Union alignment.

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