Serbian students demand top officials resign after election win

Serbia's student-led political movement demanded the resignation of senior police, intelligence, and judiciary officials on Thursday. The group issued the call as it prepares to assume power following its victory in Sunday's parliamentary election against the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS). The movement urged election authorities to declare the final results without delay after a scheduled rerun at approximately 50 polling stations next Sunday. This step is necessary to allow the formation of a new Parliament and government.

The Students' List defeated the SNS, which has held unchallenged power in Serbia for 14 years. Although the students won the ballot, outgoing authorities currently retain control. A formal transition of power is expected to take several weeks. Student representative Filip Ubovic stated at a press conference in Belgrade that changes are beginning immediately. He emphasized that state institutions belong to citizens and that the law applies to everyone.

The SNS party has faced accusations of corruption, cronyism, and links to organized crime since taking office in 2012. Critics also charged the party with exerting pressure on the judiciary, police, and media. The student movement asked public servants to prevent outgoing officials from destroying documentation or evidence of potential wrongdoing. They specifically requested that top police and intelligence leaders step down, citing violations of the law during recent street protests.

Accusations against state security forces include the use of excessive force, illegal surveillance, and the detention of political opponents. The students also demanded changes within the judiciary and urgent investigations into high-level corruption cases that may have been sidelined under previous leadership. The group promised to review all contracts and public spending deals. Ubovic clarified that the movement seeks adherence to laws, professionalism, and responsibility rather than political revenge.

Aleksandar Vucic, the leader of the SNS, held his own press conference on Thursday. He accused the election winners of revolutionary terror. This comment followed an incident where groups of people stormed the Informer TV station. The station had led pre-election propaganda that labeled the students as traitors and enemies of the state.

The political shift follows a wave of street protests that began two years ago. Suspicions of corruption in infrastructure projects triggered the demonstrations after a collapsed canopy at a train station in northern Serbia killed 16 people during a renovation. The students led those protests before challenging and defeating Vucic in the early ballot. This marks the first time a grass-roots youth movement has toppled a well-established political leader in the country.

Manja Grcic, the general manager of state television RTS, has resigned. The public broadcaster's branch in Novi Sad, where the 2024 train station tragedy occurred, apologized to viewers for selective and non-professional reporting. There was no immediate response from the police commanders, judges, and prosecutors targeted by the student demands.

Serbia is formally seeking European Union membership, though the bid has stalled under Vucic due to democratic backsliding and close ties to Russia. EU officials have offered assistance to the new authorities to strengthen democracy and the rule of law. The students plan to hold a briefing to detail their next steps in the transition process.