Serbia’s Gen Z takes back their country from strongman Vucic, demanding top police, intelligence, judiciary officials resign immediately

Serbia's Gen Z students took charge of their nation on Thursday, demanding immediate resignations from key police, intelligence, and judiciary officials. The Students' List movement, which emerged victorious after a historic election win against former strongman leader Aleksandar Vucic, called for an official declaration of Sunday's ballot results, following a rerun at several polling stations. Vucic's right-wing Serbian Progressive Party had ruled unchallenged for 14 years, but the Students' List has now seized power.

The news conference, held in a Belgrade park that was once under Vucic's loyalists' control, emphasized the beginning of changes as the formal transfer of power would take weeks. Student Filip Ubovic stated, "Institutions belong to the citizens, and the law applies to everyone." Vucic's party has long been plagued by accusations of corruption, ties to organized crime, and pressure on the judiciary, police, and media, which the students firmly denied.

In their request, students urged public servants to prevent outgoing officials from destroying evidence of potential wrongdoing. On Thursday, Vucic held a news conference, accusing the election winners of "revolutionary terror" following a storming of the Informer TV station. The students accused state police of using excessive force during protests, illegal surveillance, detention, and pressure on political opponents.

The students called for top police officials and intelligence agencies to step down, citing their alleged unlawful actions during the protests. They also demanded changes in the judiciary and urgent investigations into corruption cases that might have been ignored due to political pressure under Vucic. They assured that all contracts and public spending deals would be reviewed. However, there was no immediate response from the police commanders, judges, and prosecutors asked to resign.

So far, there has been no reaction from the affected individuals. Serbia has been seeking European Union membership for years, but the bid has been hindered by democratic backsliding under Vucic. EU officials have offered assistance to the new authorities in strengthening Serbia's democracy and the rule of law.