Serbian Student List, a coalition of academics and professionals, captured 141 of 250 seats in the May 2025 parliamentary election, securing a 53% vote share that toppled the Serbian Progressive Party's 39% dominance. The Guardian reported that the victory ended Aleksandar Vucic's 14‑year rule. The election, the first since the 2014 reforms, marked a seismic shift in Serbia's political landscape.
Students who organized nationwide protests after a 2024 railway collapse that killed 16 chose the slate, which includes 160 PhDs such as cardiologist Ilija Srdanovic and former central bank governor Dejan Soskic. A 27‑year‑old student from Novi Sad, Rina, said the list gave her hope for accountability. The list also features former EuroLeague president Dejan Bodiroga and sociologist Jovo Bakic.
Unlike conventional parties, the Student List has no declared leader and relies on collective decision‑making, with its manifesto focused on anti‑corruption and institutional reform. Srdanovic, the movement's head, said in a statement that evidence‑based policy would trump party politics.
The parliament will convene on 11 June, and the Student List must now negotiate a coalition with smaller parties; experts warn that the absence of a clear prime‑ministerial candidate could stall governance. European Union external relations chief, Martin R. Schmidt, expressed cautious optimism about Serbia's new direction. The new body, potentially Europe's most educated parliament, will face pressure to deliver rapid reforms.