Serbia's Vucic concedes defeat in historic election win for student protest movement

"It is clear that we have lost these elections, the Student List has won," Vucic said in a televised speech. Within moments of his announcement, the streets of Belgrade erupted in celebration. Tens of thousands of people thronged along the city's main boulevards, with cars honking, people dancing and students shouting "victory" and "he's done".

The students' ​win marks a profound political shift in the country of some 6 million people and is reminiscent of the defeat of Hungary's Viktor Orban in April.

It may also offer a blueprint for ​other student movements across Europe, which have taken to the streets in recent weeks to protest, in some cases violently, against poor education standards and a lack of prospects.

RECORD TURNOUT SPURS STUDENTS TO VICTORYLines snaked from polling stations in cities and towns across the country earlier in the day, and even Vucic waited for nearly two hours to vote in Belgrade. Pollsters and the election commission ​put turnout close to 70%, the highest since the breakup of Yugoslavia in 1992.

"(The turnout) did not surprise me because there was a large and strong mass that has formed throughout the past two years," ​said voter Katarina Petrovic. Vucic, who resigned from his second term as president to run again for prime minister, was a strong incumbent and few in the student protest movement dared believe he would concede so fast.

Supporters credit him with modernising ‌Serbia's economy ⁠and building new highways, railways, schools and hospitals. "Some businessmen, some people will leave us but our structure is firm, we are very united, very strong, we are used to being in the opposition," Vucic said.

UNCERTAINTY OVER THE STUDENTS' CANDIDATESMuch remains unclear about how the student-backed candidates will fare. Their list of 250 largely unknown candidates includes university professors, actors and farmers, and is led by cardiologist Ilija Srdanovic, who was in tears after Vucic's announcement.

However, it is unclear who will be prime minister and enact the students' domestic agenda, which aims to root out graft and improve schooling. Political analysts predict some kind of purge of Vucic allies in the police, security ​services and ministries.

But the students have been quieter ​on their international ambitions. As Vucic did for ⁠years, they will have to juggle relations with China, a major investor, Russia, Serbia's traditional ally and principal supplier of natural gas, and the European Union, Serbia's largest trading partner.

"The biggest uncertainty is...who is going to lead the government, who will be the key ministers, and how they will operate based on the promises they ​made to fight corruption, to reintroduce the rule of law, but also to re-establish Serbia's position in foreign policy," said Radivoje Grujic, a Warsaw-based election ​consultant.

PROTEST MOVEMENT INCREASED PRESSUREThe student-led street ⁠protests sparked by the station disaster started small but quickly became the biggest in a generation, calling for Vucic to step down. Rights groups and activists say repression worsened in the period since.

Vucic and the SNS repeatedly denied accusations of repression, corruption and spying on their opponents. He has said the students are funded by foreign agents in Croatia and Montenegro, a charge the students dismiss.

Meanwhile, on the streets of Belgrade, a traditional brass band struck up, and ⁠a group ​including a man in a "students are champions" jumper floated balloons in the shape of the number 3, representing the number of the ​students' list of candidates.

"We will drink a beer to celebrate, we will get drunk, we are so happy, I have no words to describe how much," said Andjela, a student who was with a group of friends.

Dejan Soskic, a former central bank governor and ​a candidate of the Student List, called on people to maintain order and peace, and thanked voters for their civilised conduct during the electoral process.