Serbia's Vucic Concedes Defeat to the Student List, Blames 'Deep American State' and Promises a Comeback

Serbian leader Aleksandar Vucic has conceded defeat in Sunday's parliamentary election, Breitbart reports.

The concession. Speaking after polls closed, Vucic said, "Based on the stratified sample, it is clear that we have lost the election" to the Student List, a ticket that grew out of anti-government student protests. He said it "will have between 135 and 140 seats, while we will have around 105."

His response. He vowed to return: "From freedom and from prison, from any place, I will defeat them much faster than they think." He told supporters, "From tonight, we start preparing," and predicted that "in six months, no one will be happy and joyful anymore." He congratulated the winners while calling them "executors of dirty work."

His accusation. Vucic said the movement was carried out "with direct support from various European countries, and the deep American state, the one against President Trump."

The funding claim. Breitbart cites USASpending.gov data showing the Center for Research, Transparency, and Accountability, a Serbian group that tracks elections and published the students' demands, has received $832,432.47 in U.S. funding, with $2.8 million still obligated. Breitbart ties that group to the protests.

What comes next. Vucic resigned the presidency in September to run for prime minister. The Student List has not officially named its nominee. Breitbart says cardiologist Ilija Srdanovic, the list's lead candidate, is widely seen as the front-runner, with economist Dejan Soskic another name. Parliament can take up to 90 days to form a government.

Note for readers: the seat figures are Vucic's own, from projections, not final results. The "deep American state" claim is his, and Breitbart does not show that the U.S. government backed the Student List. We covered the run-up to the vote earlier.