A major political shift began in Serbia on Monday. The student-backed movement defeated longtime leader Aleksandar Vucic in the election. After this victory, celebrations were held across the country. However, it is not yet clear how the supporters of the movement will run the government of the country and who will be given the responsibility of the Prime Minister’s post.
After Vucic conceded defeat late Sunday, thousands of people took to the streets in several cities and towns across Serbia, including the capital Belgrade. This victory is the result of anti-government protests that have been going on for the past two years. At these demonstrations, people were constantly calling for Vucic’s resignation.
How many seats did the student-backed group get in the elections?
According to Serbia’s State Election Commission, about 99 percent of vote counting has been completed. Student-backed candidates received 52.7 percent of the vote, while the coalition led by Vucic’s Serbian Progressive Party received 39.2 percent.
The student-backed group won 139 seats in the 250-seat parliament. At the same time, the SNS coalition fell to 97 seats. The rest of the seats have gone to other smaller parties.
University administrator Marijana Radovonović Pajović expressed surprise at the win and said she still couldn’t believe it. According to him, the conflict had been going on for a long time and Vucic had been putting pressure on the opponents for a long time.
The protest started after the railway station accident
Aleksandar Vucic has been influential as Prime Minister or President of Serbia since 2014. But in November 2024, 16 people died when the roof of a railway station collapsed in the city of Novi Sad. After this tragedy, huge protests started in the country against corruption and negligence of the government. Students played an important role in these demonstrations. Gradually the movement began to receive support from university professors, farmers, artists and other sections of the society as well. The protesters demanded action against corruption and accountability in government institutions.
Ultimately, student-backed candidates won a landslide victory in the election and ousted Vucic’s party from power. The result is being seen as a major political shift in Serbia, which has a population of around 6 million. In Europe it is also considered important for movements in which young people are demanding better education, responsible government and better opportunities for the future.
Now who will be the next leader of Serbia?
Despite the victory in the elections, the biggest challenge facing the movement is to run the government. There is no clear leader of this movement. In such a situation, the question remains as to who will become the Prime Minister and who will be entrusted with other important posts in the government. The main agenda of the movement is to eliminate corruption and improve the education system. But it is not yet clear what kind of government will be formed to implement these goals.
The list of student candidates includes names such as cardiologist Ilija Serdanovic, former Central Bank Governor Dejan Sosic and University of Belgrade professor Radomir Sajic. After the victory, Sajik presented his ideas on behalf of the movement. People’s expectations have also increased regarding this political change. Svetlana Karagkojido, a 60-year-old insurance worker, said corruption has permeated every part of life. He hopes that the country will gradually move towards a normal society.
Not everyone is happy with the change
However, not everyone in Serbia agrees to this change. Senka Radaković, a 60-year-old civil servant, said he does not like sudden and complete changes in the country. He also raised the question of who is behind the movement and who will run the country going forward. In such a situation, the real test of the movement will begin after winning the election. They have to prove how successful they are in curbing corruption, improving the education system and maintaining political stability in the country.
