Serbia’s Government Falls After Student-Led Protests

Serbia’s longtime leader, Aleksandar Vucic, has lost a historic election, bringing down his government following a student-led movement. The movement gained momentum after a railway collapse in November 2024, which killed 16 people. Protesters, using the slogan ‘Serbia or mafia,’ have blamed the former government for the fatal incident and frequently alleged links between the Serbian Progressive Party and organized crime, accusations Vucic has denied.

The protests began after the railway collapse and broadened to encompass wider discontent with the government. The student-led movement proved decisive in the election results, leading to the ousting of a leader who had held power for a significant period. The movement’s focus on alleged corruption and connections to organized crime resonated with voters, contributing to the shift in power.

Channel 4 News reports the movement’s slogan, ‘Serbia or mafia,’ became central to the protests, while PBS Newshour highlights the election results as dramatic, similar to recent events in Brazil. Both outlets confirm the historic nature of the outcome, marking a significant change in Serbian politics.

Background

• A railway collapse in November 2024, resulting in 16 deaths, sparked protests and ultimately contributed to the downfall of Aleksandar Vucic’s government [Fact Refinery, 2026-10-25].
• The student-led opposition movement secured a majority in parliament with 140 seats in the 168-seat legislature, surpassing the 126 needed for a majority [Fact Refinery, 2026-10-26].
• Aleksandar Vučić held a decade of power in Serbia, first as prime minister from 2014, then as president from 2017 [Fact Refinery, 2026-10-25].
• The protests broadened from demands for justice over the railway collapse to encompass wider discontent with alleged corruption and connections to organized crime [Fact Refinery, 2026-10-25].

Our reading

Our reading is that this election represents a significant rebuke of the previous government, fueled by public anger over a specific tragedy and broader concerns about corruption. The decisive victory of the student-led movement, coupled with the historic nature of the outcome as reported by multiple outlets, suggests a genuine shift in Serbian politics. The slogan ‘Serbia or mafia’ highlights the protesters’ core grievance and the extent to which they connected the government to criminal activity.

What to watch

• The international observers’ preliminary report on the vote, expected in the early afternoon, to assess the fairness and transparency of the election [Newsmax, 2026-10-26].
• Confirmation of the composition of the new government and the appointment of a presidential successor, to determine the direction of Serbian policy [Fact Refinery, 2026-10-25].
• Any statements from Aleksandar Vučić regarding his future political involvement, to gauge whether he intends to remain a significant force in Serbian politics [Fact Refinery, 2026-10-26].

Was this useful? 👍 0 👎 0

---

Read the original coverage