Serbian Student-backed Election Victors Call for Major Resignations

WHO:

BBC - Student List MPs called for top figures to stand down after their electoral victory.

BBC - Aleksandar Vučić’s party was ousted from power.

BBC - Šoškić, an economist who served as governor of Serbia’s central bank from 2010 to 2012, described his priorities for the first six months.

Kottke - The Student List was led by Ilija Srdanović, a cardiologist and professor in Novi Sad.

Kottke - The Student List’s 250 candidates included professors, scientists, doctors, workers, actors, activists, artists, and former athletes; most were previously unknown to the public.

WHAT:

BBC - Student-backed election winners demanded sweeping resignations, including calls for senior figures to leave their posts.

BBC - Šoškić said: “In the first six months, I would like to see the media scene liberated, fighting against corruption on the way, the institutions operating as prescribed by laws and a lustration law introduced.”

Kottke - A student-led coalition defeated Vučić’s party, which Kottke described as ending a 12-year reign.

Kottke - The student movement used the slogan “Serbia or the mafia.”

Kottke - Some polls put support for the Student List above 40 percent.

WHERE:

BBC - The events took place in Serbia.

Kottke - Ilija Srdanović was identified as being from Novi Sad.

WHEN:

BBC - Šoškić served as central bank governor from 2010 to 2012.

Kottke - The Student List excluded anyone enrolled in the 2024/25 academic year or whose studies were on hold.

WHY:

Kottke - Student organizers ruled themselves out as candidates to reassure voters and allies that the movement was not seeking power for itself or turning into a political party.

Kottke - The rules were intended to prevent students from appearing to build political careers and to ensure the list was not a party in disguise.

HOW:

Kottke - The Student List barred current students and former members of the ruling coalition’s 20 parties, as well as former officials of parliamentary opposition parties; ordinary opposition-party members were not barred.

Kottke - Candidates were selected through scrutiny and interviews: university faculties proposed candidates, reviewed nominees from across the country, and student assemblies made the final choices after discussion; thousands participated.

Kottke - Many established opposition parties backed the Student List.

(UPDATED October 30, 2026 08:07 UTC)

A student-backed coalition ousted President Vučić’s party in Serbia, ending its long rule. Its newly elected lawmakers are demanding senior officials resign and pledging institutional reforms. The broad candidate list was chosen through student-led scrutiny, with opposition parties backing it.