Serbia to Form New Government After Vucics Term Ends Soon

Serbia’s Student-Led Movement Wins Parliamentary Election

A student-led opposition movement has emerged victorious in Serbia’s snap parliamentary election, ending former President Aleksandar Vucic’s long grip on power. The Student List secured 52.54 percent of the vote, based on 8,077 processed polling stations out of 8,392.

The Republic Election Commission announced the results on Monday, showing that the United Serbia list, led by Vucic’s Serbian Progressive Party, had secured 39.29 percent of ballots cast. Voter turnout stood at 68.78 percent, a record high in more than 30 years.

According to RIK data, the Student List will be able to form a majority in Serbia’s 250-seat parliament on its own, with projections indicating they will win 140 seats. The United Serbia list is expected to have 103 seats, while other parties are set to receive smaller allocations.

The Student List made no announcement about a single candidate for prime minister during the campaign, instead emphasizing the collective nature of the movement that brought together academics, doctors, and workers. Ilija Srdanovic, a professor at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Novi Sad, is seen as a likely candidate to become the next prime minister.

The new National Assembly must be established within 30 days of the final results being announced, and a government must be formed within 90 days. However, the Student List’s clear majority removes the need for lengthy coalition talks.

Vucic has dominated Serbia’s politics since 2014, serving as both prime minister and president. Following his call for the snap parliamentary vote last month and his resignation as president, the post has been held temporarily by Ana Brnabic, who is now obliged to call for an extraordinary presidential election.

Source: Al Jazeera