The Student List movement secured 140 of 250 seats in Serbia’s national assembly last Sunday, capturing 53% of the popular vote and ending the 14-year political dominance of former president Aleksandar Vučić. The result, which RTÉ News reported as a 13-percentage-point margin over the United Serbia coalition, changes the political balance in a country where the ruling party previously held a firm grip on state institutions.
Election victory follows Novi Sad tragedy
The movement emerged in November 2024 following the collapse of a concrete canopy at a renovated train station in Novi Sad, which killed 16 people, including two children. Protesters blamed the disaster on endemic corruption and a lack of oversight in public contracts. According to The Guardian, the movement’s rise was fueled by nearly two years of protests against illegal surveillance and the firing of dissenters. The coalition, which campaigned without a single designated leader, relied on a collective decision-making process involving debates and assemblies.
Lawmakers target security services for corruption investigations
Incoming lawmakers are targeting the "social and psychological detoxification" of the state, as reported by The Guardian. Political scientist Ivan Vejvoda told RTÉ News that the new government’s first move will be reforming security services in a country he described as a "captured state." The movement’s manifesto pledges to establish independent police bodies to investigate corruption, bypassing the interior ministry.
Technocratic cabinet candidates emerge
While the movement holds a clear majority, it has not yet named a prime minister. Three figures have surfaced as potential candidates for the role:
- Ilija Srdanović: A cardiologist and professor from Novi Sad who has expressed support for European integration and the rule-of-law.
- Dejan Šoškić: A former governor of the National Bank of Serbia who resigned in 2012 due to concerns over the erosion of the bank’s independence.
- Dejan Bodiroga: A former professional basketball player and one of the movement’s most recognizable public figures.
The incoming government intends to staff its cabinet with a technocratic team of experts, including economists and engineers, rather than career politicians.
Officials demand resignation of media director-general
The new government faces immediate pressure to overhaul public institutions, including the state-controlled media landscape that had previously been criticized for providing one-sided, uncritical coverage. The Student List has already issued a public demand for the resignation of the station’s director-general. Meanwhile, Defense News reports that while the new government remains committed to fighting for the preservation of Kosovo as part of Serbia, it intends to investigate the probity of large-scale arms purchases made during the Vučić era, including deals for French Rafale jets and Chinese drone systems.
New MPs face strict government formation deadlines
When must the new government be formed?
Following the official announcement of the election results by the Electoral Commission, the newly elected MPs have 30 days to form a government. If they fail to meet this deadline, the period is extended to 90 days.
How does the Student List’s governance model differ from previous Serbian parties?
Unlike the Serbian Progressive Party, which operated under top-down control, the Student List utilizes a collective approach. Decisions are made through student-led assemblies, debates, and internal votes rather than by a single party leader.
What is the status of Serbia’s EU accession?
Formal accession negotiations opened in 2014 but stalled due to limited progress on rule-of-law reforms and ongoing tensions with Kosovo. The incoming government has pledged to align domestic policy with EU legislation, though its stance on Kosovo remains a potential point of friction with Brussels.
Academics dominate candidate lists for parliamentary seats
The Student List movement’s candidate list for the 250 parliamentary seats was comprised largely of academics, including doctors, engineers, and agricultural experts, with nearly half coming from education-related backgrounds.
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