UPDATE 2 – European leaders welcome Serbia election result, pledge support for country's EU path

ADDS REACTIONS FROM EUROPEAN LEADERS, CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE

By Ayhan Simsek, Melike Pala, and Necva Tastan

BERLIN / BRUSSELS / ISTANBUL (AA) – Leaders from across Europe on Monday welcomed the Student List’s victory in parliamentary elections in EU hopeful Serbia, pledging support for democratic reforms and the country’s path toward European Union membership.

On social media, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Sunday's vote had yielded a clear result.

“The parliamentary elections in Serbia have been clearly decided. We congratulate the Student List!” he wrote. “With its demands for the rule of law, the fight against corruption, and fundamental freedoms, it has reached the people.”

“We will actively support Serbia’s European path,” he added.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa also congratulated the Student List on its victory.

In a joint statement on X, the two EU leaders said the Serbian people had turned out "in record numbers to shape their country's future."

"We stand ready to support reforms on the rule of law, media freedom, the fight against corruption and strong democratic institutions, and to work together to build Serbia’s future in the European Union," they wrote.

Irish Taoiseach (prime minister) Micheal Martin congratulated the list, referring to Ireland’s current EU term presidency, saying: “As Presidency of the EU, Ireland stands ready to support Serbia in its efforts to strengthen institutions, the rule of law and democracy.”

- Chance to strengthen democracy, the rule of law, and the ‘fight against corruption’

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson called the result an opportunity to strengthen democracy, the rule of law, and the fight against corruption.

“Sweden continues to support reforms that underpin Serbia’s EU accession,” he said.

Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal said Serbians had “chosen democratic change,” calling the result a new opportunity to move closer to the EU.

Romanian President Nicusor Dan hailed a “historic election, with the highest turnout in decades,” pledging to work with the new government for Serbia’s European path and a stable, prosperous neighborhood.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev pledged continued support for Serbia’s EU integration and closer bilateral ties through dialogue, economic cooperation, and greater connectivity.

He also said protecting the cultural identity, language, traditions, and rights of Serbia’s Bulgarian minority must remain an important part of bilateral dialogue.

Poland’s Foreign Ministry welcomed the “historic voter turnout, reflecting strong democratic engagement,” saying it looked forward to dialogue with Serbia’s new leadership and further cooperation on EU enlargement.

Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar said he had congratulated Student List leaders by telephone and assured them of Hungary’s support.

“I was delighted to hear how much strength our victory in April had given them during this difficult struggle,” he wrote.

Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot welcomed both the student movement’s victory and former President Aleksandar Aleksandar Vucic’s acceptance of the results, calling the latter “an important step towards a peaceful and orderly transition of power.”

Preliminary figures released by Serbia's Republic Electoral Commission showed the student-backed list winning 52.54% of the vote, compared with 39.29% for Vucic’s United Serbia list, based on more than 96% of polling stations processed.

Sunday’s elections followed nearly two years of student-led protests triggered by the deadly collapse of a train station canopy in Novi Sad. Speaking at his party’s headquarters in Belgrade, Vucic acknowledged that his electoral list had lost. He blamed the defeat on what he described as interference by several European countries and the “American deep state.”

Necva Taştan Sevinç,Ayhan Şimşek,Melike Pala