THE KIDS WON! Serbia’s long-standing leader Aleksandar Vučić has admitted defeat to a student-led protest movement in snap parliamentary elections, the BBC reported.
“It is clear we have lost these elections,” the right-wing populist said as he conceded. With 96% of polling stations counted, Serbia’s election commission said the Student List had won 2.24 million votes to 1.67 million for his Serbian Progressive Party (SNS). Preliminary figures put the students on 52.65% and the SNS on 39.2%.
The movement was formed less than two years ago after the collapse of a canopy in front of Novi Sad station killed 16 people, a disaster blamed on corruption and negligence. Vučić called the snap vote after two years of protests. The SNS has been in power since 2012, and Vučić and the party have repeatedly denied corruption.
Belgrade, Novi Sad and other cities erupted with dancing, chanting, honking and fireworks. “Serbia is free,” one student told the BBC. “It’s a miracle.” Lead candidate Ilija Srdanović said: “This will be a free state.”
The Student List has no obvious leaders and fielded doctors, actors, academics and sports figures for the 250-seat parliament. The EU’s enlargement commissioner Marta Kos said “the door to the EU is open,” while the Kremlin praised Vučić and reminded Belgrade that “it takes two to tango.” Next up: who becomes prime minister, with presidential elections due in December.
Featured image: AI-generated editorial illustration by Bugle Blast.
Sources: BBC News, BBC News analysis
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