Serbia’s Student List Claims Election Win Amid Transition Challenges

Belgrade, Serbia | Oct. 28, 2026, 5:03 p.m. ET | 4 min read

Celebrations filled the streets of Belgrade late into the night following the Student List’s decisive victory in Serbia’s parliamentary elections on October 25. Despite the convincing win, the path forward remains uncertain as the new coalition lacks immediate control over key state institutions.

The Student List secured approximately 140 seats in the 250-member parliament, granting them a comfortable majority. However, three days after the polls closed, the group has only just released its governing agenda, “The Student Plan,” which outlines three core priorities: anti-corruption efforts, education and innovation expansion, and economic reforms.

Ekaterina Shtukina/Sputnik/AP

“Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabić (right) and Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev (center) review the honor guard during a welcome ceremony in Belgrade, Serbia.”

The country currently operates in institutional limbo. Final vote certification won’t be complete for at least another month, and significant public pressure mounts for rapid reforms to media and public institutions. Legal experts emphasize that meaningful change must follow established procedures.

“The real transformation will begin only after the election process concludes, mandates are verified, and a lawful transfer of power occurs,” explains Slobodan Bubnjević, a physicist and science journalist poised to join the Student List’s parliamentary ranks. “Any attempt at systemic change outside legal frameworks would be both unconstitutional and ineffective.”

Bubnjević acknowledges public frustration but stresses the distinction between institutional reform and chaos. “There’s a sense of expectation in the air, but this isn’t about creating a power vacuum—it’s about unshackling institutions. The legal framework exists, procedures are clear, and current officeholders remain accountable for their duties,” he notes.

Transition Period Challenges

Until the new government assumes office, executive authority stays with the defeated Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) and its leader, Aleksandar Vučić. This includes control over security forces, military, prosecutorial bodies, police, and most media outlets still aligned with Vučić’s administration.

Marko Djurica/Reuters

“Ilija Srdanović, first on the Student List’s electoral list and a contender to lead the party’s government, celebrates following the first results of the parliamentary elections in Belgrade, Serbia, Oct. 25, 2026.”

The Student List leadership is carefully managing expectations during this transition period. According to political scientist Dušan Spasojević from the University of Belgrade’s Faculty of Political Sciences, unrealistic public hopes for immediate drastic measures risk disappointment.

“People desperately want change, and their expectations are enormous,” says Professor Spasojevic. “Some call for mass dismissals and arrests, but such actions cannot happen overnight. There’s also a real risk that the SNS might resort to obstruction tactics, potentially limiting the Student List’s ability to exercise their parliamentary majority effectively.”

The Student List has signaled continuity in foreign policy, particularly regarding Serbia’s delicate balancing act between Russia and the European Union. Recent appearances by party representatives on international platforms—including Russian media—suggest maintaining existing diplomatic relationships while pursuing EU integration.

Ilija Srdanović, a cardiologist leading the party’s parliamentary list, emphasized alignment with European democratic values during interviews with media outlets in Croatia and Montenegro. He stated that establishing rule of law, equality, freedom of expression, and respect for democratic principles constitutes the primary objective for any incoming government.

“Serbia’s EU candidacy since 2012 has stalled significantly in recent years,” Srdanović noted. “Rebuilding trust through institutional integrity and transparent governance will be essential steps toward reinvigorating that process.”

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