Aleksandar Vučić has conceded defeat after the coalition led by the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) lost the snap parliamentary elections held on Sunday, October 25, acknowledging that the Student List emerged victorious.
Speaking at a press conference at SNS headquarters, Vučić said that although final results had not yet been published, preliminary figures clearly indicated that his coalition had lost its parliamentary majority.
“We do not have the final results. Many will be surprised, and you will see how much some people have lied and what they have fabricated. I want to inform you that the student ‘blockade’ list has won. They will have between 135 and 140 seats, while we have around 105,” Vučić said.
According to his estimates, the Student List secured approximately 2.2 million votes, while the coalition led by the SNS received around 1.72 million.
Vučić also predicted that minority communities would be represented in the new Serbian parliament, including the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians with three seats and Albanian parties from the Preševo Valley with one seat.
Despite the defeat, Vučić insisted that his party remained united and prepared to continue its political activities from opposition.
“Some businesspeople and some other people will leave us now, but our structure is very stable. We are very united, very strong, and we have learned from being in opposition,” he said.
He dismissed speculation that he might leave the country if he lost power, accusing his political opponents of spreading lies.
Vučić also claimed that his coalition had secured the support of the majority of Serbian voters in Kosovo, Republika Srpska, Montenegro and North Macedonia.
“We won in Kosovo among the Serbs, and I know that tonight is difficult for many people. We will fight and show what the opposition is, proud of everything we have done,” he said.
High turnout and reports of irregularities
Snap parliamentary elections in Serbia concluded at 8 p.m., with vote counting beginning immediately after polling stations closed.
According to the Republic Electoral Commission (RIK), turnout had reached 64.89 percent by 6 p.m., significantly higher than the 51.93 percent recorded at the same time during the December 2023 parliamentary elections.
A total of 6,451,292 citizens were eligible to vote. Eighteen electoral lists, featuring a combined 2,418 candidates, competed for the 250 seats in Serbia’s parliament.
Particularly high turnout was recorded in Novi Sad, at 68.97 percent, and Niš, at 69.09 percent, by 6 p.m.
However, the election was accompanied by incidents and allegations of irregularities in several cities.
Observers reported more than 300 suspected irregularities, including the photographing of ballot papers, problems with voter registers, family voting and obstruction of election observers.
In Novi Sad, allegations of vote-buying and the use of parallel voter lists were reported, prompting police intervention at several locations.
In Doljevac, voting was temporarily suspended after a citizen allegedly attempted to vote using multiple identification documents.
The defeat acknowledged by Vučić marks a significant turning point in Serbian politics, potentially paving the way for the Student List to form a new parliamentary majority and forcing the SNS to prepare for opposition after more than a decade in power.
