From Protest to Parliament: How Serbia’s Students Helped Win an Election
A student-led movement that began with a demand for justice after the Novi Sad railway station disaster grew into a political force that won Serbia’s 2026 parliamentary election.
International Students Society (ISS) · · Serbia · Approximately 5 min read
Sources checked: 27 October 2026 · Updated: 27 October 2026
At a glance
From a demand for justice to an election victory
In less than two years, a student-led movement in Serbia grew from a demand for justice into a force that won a parliamentary election. [2]
The movement began after a railway station canopy collapsed in Novi Sad on 1 November 2024. The disaster ultimately claimed 16 lives and raised questions about corruption, negligence and public accountability. Students began organizing protests, demanding a transparent investigation and accountability. [2]
Their message reached far beyond university campuses. Over time, teachers, farmers, academics, professionals and other citizens joined the demonstrations. Students marched across the country, held public assemblies and kept their demands in the public eye. [4][6]
As pressure for change grew, the movement called for early elections and created the Student List, bringing together candidates from different parts of Serbian society. On 25 October 2026, the list won the parliamentary election. With nearly all votes counted, it had received approximately 52.7% of the vote, and Aleksandar Vučić conceded defeat. [1][2][3]
Official results released by the Republic Electoral Commission (RIK) on 26 October, based on data from 8,135 polling stations, give the Student List 2,246,423 votes (52.65%) against 1,673,241 votes (39.22%) for the “Aleksandar Vučić – United Serbia” list, on a turnout of 68.78%. [5]
Timeline: from Novi Sad to election night
1 November 2024 Documented
A railway station canopy collapsed in Novi Sad, ultimately claiming 16 lives and raising public questions about corruption, negligence and accountability.
BBCLate 2024 – 2026 Documented
Students organized protests demanding a transparent investigation and accountability. Teachers, farmers, academics, professionals and other citizens joined the demonstrations over time.
Anadolu Agency; The Guardian2026 Documented
The movement called for early elections and formed the Student List, bringing together candidates from different parts of Serbian society.
AFP25 October 2026 Documented
Snap parliamentary election held. With nearly all votes counted, the Student List received approximately 52.7% of the vote; Aleksandar Vučić conceded defeat.
BBC; Reuters26 October 2026 Documented
RIK released results based on data from 8,135 polling stations: Student List 2,246,423 votes (52.65%); “Aleksandar Vučić – United Serbia” 1,673,241 votes (39.22%). Turnout 68.78%.
Republic Electoral Commission (RIK)Ongoing · Developing Developing
The Student List is preparing for talks on forming a government. The movement’s next challenge is turning electoral success into effective government and lasting institutional change.
Reuters; The Guardian
How did they achieve this success?
Observers and participants point to several factors behind the movement’s growth from protest to electoral victory.
- 1
A clear cause. Their initial demand for justice connected with wider public concerns about corruption and accountability.
- 2
Collective organization. Students used assemblies and shared decision-making to build a movement across universities.
- 3
Support beyond campuses. They reached out to communities across Serbia and built a broad coalition.
- 4
A path from protest to participation. They turned public support into an electoral list and encouraged people to vote.
The next chapter
The result is a powerful example of what students can contribute to public life when they organize, listen to their communities and remain committed to a shared purpose.
The next challenge will be turning electoral success into effective government and lasting institutional change. The Student List, a non-hierarchical movement without a single established leader, is preparing for talks on forming a government. [1][6]
At International Students Society, we believe students have a voice that deserves to be heard — not only on campus, but in the future of their societies.
International Students Society perspective
International Students Society is an independent media, research and student-public-interest platform. This report describes events documented by international media and official election authorities; it does not endorse any political party, candidate or government.
Vote figures cited here are attributed to Serbia’s Republic Electoral Commission and to preliminary counts reported by international media. ISS has not independently counted votes and does not make judicial findings about the matters that gave rise to the protests.
Sources and Further Reading
[1] Reuters — After Vučić defeat, Serbia waits to see how student-backed leaders will govern
Election outcome and questions over how the student-backed movement will govern.
Read original source[2] BBC — Serbia’s veteran ruler Vučić concedes election to student-led protest movement
Concession, preliminary results (52.7% with nearly all polling stations counted) and the Novi Sad disaster’s role.
Read original source[3] AFP — Serbian student movement eyes power after election triumph
The movement’s trajectory from protests to the Student List and its election victory.
Read original source[4] Anadolu Agency — Explainer: Serbia’s students won the election, but who will govern?
Background on the movement’s growth and the governance questions ahead.
Read original source[5] Republic Electoral Commission (RIK) — official results
Official figures: Student List 52.65%, United Serbia 39.22%, turnout 68.78%.
Read original source[6] The Guardian — Serbia’s Student List preparing for talks on forming government
Government-formation talks and the movement’s non-hierarchical structure.
Read original source
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