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Serbia’s Parliament to meet on Nov. 17 after student-led movement won election over strongman Vucic
Serbia’s new parliament will hold its first session on 17 November, following an election in which a student-led movement won a majority of seats and defeated the party of former president Aleksandar Vučić. The result marks a major shift after nearly 14 years of Serbian Progressive Party rule and follows two years of protests over corruption and state accountability.
The Students’ List won 140 of the assembly’s 250 seats, compared with 103 for the Serbian Progressive Party; ethnic-minority parties hold the remainder. Parliament will choose a speaker and other bodies before a new government is formed within 90 days, while Serbia must also hold a presidential election by year-end. The protests began after a 2024 railway-station canopy collapse killed 16 people, and the movement says it will restore the rule of law and tackle corruption.
In short
- Student-led movement wins 140 of 250 parliamentary seats.
- Serbia’s new parliament meets on 17 November.
- A new government is due within 90 days.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters can argue that the Students’ List has a clear mandate to strengthen the rule of law and hold public institutions accountable, especially after years of protests over corruption and the fatal canopy collapse. A parliamentary majority gives it the opportunity to turn those demands into reforms and restore public trust.
The case against
Those wary of the result can argue that a rapid change in government carries risks: a student-led movement with limited governing experience may struggle to build durable institutions or manage competing priorities. They may also stress the value of continuity and careful scrutiny, so that anti-corruption reforms respect due process and do not become instruments of political retaliation.