Students topple Vucic’s government in Serbia
A student-led list won Serbia’s elections by a convincing majority, ousting the most powerful politician in the country. Former president Aleksandar Vucic moves into opposition after 14 years in power. For university professors and experts who are taking over, work on the recovery of state institutions is only just beginning.
Uncertainty remains over key positions after student-led movement deals a blow to longtime leader's political dominance.
Non-hierarchical movement is seeking to ‘rebuild society’ in Balkan country after years of authoritarian rule Europe live – latest updates Serbia’s triumphant but untested Student List movement is preparing to start talks on forming a government capable of reversing 14 years of increasingly authoritarian nationalist rule, after a seismic weekend election win. Supporters of the movement, which has no experience of government, took to the streets in the west Balkan country on Monday after the strongman former president, Aleksandar Vučić, was defeated in a historic landslide.
Vucic concedes defeat to student-led movement. In a seismic political shift, Serbia’s longtime strongman leader Aleksandar Vucic conceded defeat to a student-led movement in the country's parliamentary elections.
Vučić made his announcement at the headquarters of his Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) in the capital Belgrade. Vučić, who backed Serbia’s candidacy for the European Union while refusing to impose sanctions on Russia over its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, had pledged to increase pensions and public sector salaries, and investment in state healthcare.
Celebrations erupted across Belgrade as Serbia's student-backed movement claimed a major election victory
Serbia's elections came after almost two years of student-led demonstrations against perceived corruption and creeping authoritarianism.