Serbia’s student movement has demanded the resignation of senior police, intelligence and judicial officials after its historic parliamentary election victory over Aleksandar Vucic’s ruling party.
The Students’ List also called on election authorities to publish the final results of Sunday’s vote without delay, following a rerun at about 50 polling stations next Sunday. The formal transfer of power is expected to take several weeks.
The movement won the election against Vucic’s right-wing Serbian Progressive Party, which has governed without a serious challenge for 14 years. The outgoing authorities remain in office while a new parliament and government are formed.
At a news conference in a central Belgrade park, student representative Filip Ubovic said: “Changes are starting now. Institutions belong to the citizens and the law applies to everyone.”
The students said senior police and intelligence officials had served the Serbian Progressive Party during protests, allegedly breaching the law. They accused the authorities of excessive force, unlawful surveillance, detentions and pressure on political opponents.
They also called for changes to the judiciary and urgent investigations into senior corruption cases which they said may have been sidelined by political pressure. Public contracts and spending agreements will be reviewed, they said.
“The Students’ List is not here to take revenge,” Mr Ubovic said. “We are not asking for political service but for the adherence to the laws, professionalism and responsibility.”
The movement urged public servants to ensure that outgoing officials did not destroy documents or evidence relating to possible wrongdoing. There was no immediate response from the police commanders, judges and prosecutors whose resignations were demanded.
Mr Vucic accused the election winners of “revolutionary terror” after groups of people entered the Informer TV station, which had broadcast pre-election propaganda portraying the students as traitors and enemies of the state.
The student protests began after a canopy collapsed at a railway station in northern Serbia two years ago, killing 16 people following renovation work. Suspicions of corruption in infrastructure projects fuelled the demonstrations, which were led by the students before their election challenge to Mr Vucic.
The general manager of state broadcaster Serbian RTS, Manja Grcic, has resigned. The broadcaster’s Novi Sad branch, at the site of the November 2024 station tragedy, has also apologised to viewers for selective and unprofessional reporting.
Serbia is seeking membership of the European Union, although its application has stalled amid concerns over democratic backsliding and close ties to Russia. EU officials have offered to help the incoming authorities strengthen democracy and the rule of law.
