The same estimate projects the opposition could seat 141 of the 250 deputies in parliament, enough to form a government on its own. Vučić, who stepped down at the end of September and had expected to head the cabinet, conceded defeat.
Commenting on the result, the former president said he saw in it "confirmation of a revolution" that he said had been carried out with the support of European countries and the "American deep state." Vučić said that deep state opposes US President Donald Trump.
He also predicted that the new authorities would impose sanctions on Russia by March or April 2027. Vučić attributed this to pressure from the EU: Brussels imposed restrictions from the very start of the war, he said, and would force the students to do the same. According to him, they are "merely contractors who will do the dirty work conceived by someone else."
Student List representative Jovo Bakić told RT Balkan that the movement does not intend to impose sanctions. Serbia respects Russia as a great power and a historically important partner, "and in many cases a defender," he said. Restrictions by a small country "would not have changed anything, but symbolically it would be very bad," he said.
Bakić also addressed energy cooperation with Moscow amid EU pressure. Decisions in this area, he said, should be made on the basis of Serbia's interests: the country does not act to "satisfy foreigners." The bloc's program includes a foreign policy section: deepening partnership with EU countries and reforms toward future integration, while preserving "traditional partnership" with Russia and refusing restrictive measures against it.
The European Commission is unhappy with Belgrade's lenient policy toward Russians, Meduza reported. Russian citizens can enter the country visa-free for up to 30 days, obtain residence permits and apply for citizenship. Since the start of 2022, about two thousand Russians have naturalized in Serbia, and more than 300 received passports under an accelerated procedure, according to Radio Liberty Europe. The EC believes some of those naturalized are under EU, US or Ukrainian sanctions, creating security risks for EU countries. In its November report on enlargement policy, the EC said Serbia must demonstrate a "geopolitical orientation toward the EU" by aligning with restrictive measures.
The protest movement Students in Blockade emerged during mass protests in 2024. They began after the collapse of a canopy at a reconstructed railway station, in which 16 people died.
Commenting on the election results, the Kremlin said it expects to continue developing relations with the republic despite the defeat of Vučić, its ally. "But, as you know, it takes two to tango," added Dmitry Peskov, press secretary to the Russian president.
On Sunday evening thousands of people took to the streets to celebrate the preliminary results, Reuters reported. Rallies were held in Belgrade, Novi Sad, Niš and other cities.