Serbia’s inspiring student movement is set to run in snap parliamentary elections against Aleksandar Vucic’s ruling party, which has governed the country for 14 years. After nearly two years of protests, the students’ list of 250 candidates—comprising professors, scientists, doctors, workers, actors, and activists—was selected through a rigorous, democratic process involving university assemblies and nationwide discussions. The established opposition has largely backed the student list, turning the election into a referendum on the regime under the slogan “Serbia or the mafia.” With polls showing support above 40 percent, the race is tight.
The movement began in 2024 after a railway station canopy collapse in Novi Sad killed 16 people, sparking demands for accountability. Students have faced repression, including arrests, violence, and surveillance, but remain united without a single leader. Vucic, facing his most serious challenge yet, has struggled to discredit the movement, which represents a generation that grew up under his authoritarian rule.
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing