Serbia's election winner seen seeking closer EU ties after Vučić defeat

An analyst says Serbia's Students List movement won the election on a promise to turn the page on outgoing prime minister Aleksandar Vučić. The assessment suggests the group is now likely to seek better relations with the European Union, even if its position on eventual membership remains unclear. The comments come as Serbia begins to adjust to the political consequences of Vučić's defeat after 14 years in power.

Marko Prelec, an analyst at the International Crisis Group, said it was still premature to question the movement's ability to govern. He said dismantling Vučić's system would take a long time, pointing to the scale of the political change now under way. Prelec also noted that the Students List has no single leader and no charismatic figure, and that no clear name has been designated for the post of prime minister.

The movement's appeal, according to Prelec, rested mainly on its promise to replace the previous political order rather than on a detailed governing programme. He described the group as ambivalent about Serbian membership of the European Union, while saying it clearly wants better relations with the bloc. That leaves open questions about how quickly any new administration could translate its election message into policy.

The result matters because Serbia's relationship with the European Union has long been a central issue in its domestic politics and foreign policy. Any shift in tone from the new winners could affect how Brussels views the country's next steps, especially if the incoming leadership seeks to reset ties while avoiding a firm commitment on membership. The transition also raises questions about how much of Vučić's political and institutional influence can be unwound in the near term.

Prelec's comments also underline the uncertainty surrounding the shape of the next government. With no designated prime minister and no dominant figure at the top of the movement, the process of forming a stable administration may take time. That could make early policy signals on the European Union, governance reform and institutional change especially important.

What remains unclear is how the Students List will organise itself in office and whether its stance on the European Union will become more defined. It is also not yet clear how quickly the new leadership can move beyond the system built under Vučić. For now, the main issue is whether the election result marks only a change in leadership or the start of a broader political realignment in Serbia.

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