Serbia's populist strongman Vucic outplayed all his opponents. Then the students came
Summary
Serbia’s ruling Serbian Progressive Party lost a parliamentary election to a grassroots student movement after nearly two years of protests, ending Aleksandar Vucic’s 14-year dominance of Serbian politics. The protests began after a train-station canopy collapse killed 16 people in 2024, and the student movement campaigned against corruption, cronyism and organized crime.Key Facts
- Vucic conceded his party’s defeat on Sunday.
- The student movement led protests for nearly two years before winning the election.
- The protests began after a canopy collapsed at a renovated train station in northern Serbia, killing 16 people.
- Vucic campaigned with favorable state-media coverage, attacks on opponents, cash payments to voters and promises of higher pensions, roads and cheaper medicines.
- Vucic blamed foreign interference for the result, citing European countries and what he called the “deep American state.”
- Vucic began his political career as an ultranationalist and later presented himself as pro-European while also maintaining ties with Russia.
- Vucic refused to join European Union sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine while Serbia pursued EU membership.
- Russian government spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow hoped Serbia’s next government would maintain friendly relations with Russia.
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