Serbia after Vucic's defeat: election winners are losing patience
After the Student List won Serbia's October 25 parliamentary election, President Aleksandar Vucic has lost his grip on the media and state bodies, while the public expects swift justice. The new parliament has not yet convened.
The Student List, a movement that grew out of Serbia's student protests and includes professors, activists and artists, won the country's parliamentary election on October 25 with 53% of the vote. The ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), led by long-time President Aleksandar Vucic, received 39%. The result marks a shift of power in a country where Vucic and his party had tight control over the media and many state institutions.
At a press conference attended by fewer journalists than usual, Vucic accused the winners of "revolutionary terror." He warned that if state authorities do nothing about it, his supporters would be forced to "organize themselves." As an example, he cited the immediate resignation of the director general of the state broadcaster RTS and the dismissal of several senior editors. On Monday, a small group of protesters entered the TV station Informer, against which thousands of complaints have been filed over the years for demonizing Vucic's critics. Journalists' associations now want its license revoked. Other pro-Vucic tabloids have already softened their tone and no longer call the Student List "terrorists."
Investigations and impatience
In many cities, residents peacefully removed portraits of Vucic from municipal buildings. The public prosecutor's office for organized crime has opened investigations, including into electoral fraud, and a special commission is reviewing the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade, which critics say served Vucic's interests. The protest movement was triggered by the collapse, two years ago, of a concrete canopy at the newly renovated railway station in Novi Sad, which killed 16 people.
Dejan Bursac of the Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory at Belgrade University said society expects justice and is growing impatient in the power vacuum. Zlatko Minic of Transparency Serbia, which monitors governments, warned that officials can still award contracts and create financial obligations before the new government takes over. The Student List has demanded the resignation of senior police and judiciary officials.
Foreign policy and next steps
The Student List unites left- and right-wing, pro-European and pro-Russian forces. It wants to advance EU accession talks but opposes sanctions on Russia and the recognition of Kosovo. Its representatives have promised better relations with neighbors. On November 1, voting will be repeated at about 50 polling stations because of irregularities, after which parliament can be convened.
