How students dethroned Serbia's strongman
VIENNA — After 14 years of authoritarian rule, Aleksandar Vučić and his Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) have been ousted from power. Although polls had predicted a close election, the student-led opposition ultimately won by a wide margin. In an election that was neither free nor fair—owing to media capture, violence against the government’s opponents, and the SNS’s blatant misuse of state…
Following a 14-year era of authoritarian leadership, Serbia's Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić and his Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) were defeated in recent elections. Despite polls predicting a tight contest, the student-led opposition secured a decisive victory. The election, marred by media control, violence against dissenters, and the party's misuse of state resources, saw the Student List emerge triumphant with 53% of the vote, resulting in 141 parliamentary seats and an overwhelming majority.
The students' triumph emerged from months of protests that ignited after the collapse of a canopy at Novi Sad's railway station in November 2024, claiming 16 lives. The government's inadequate response to the tragedy only fueled public anger and spurred widespread mobilization. This collective action ultimately paved the way for change via the democratic process.
While this outcome marks a significant victory for pro-democracy movements globally, Serbia's case highlights the importance of both sustained public mobilization and a robust electoral campaign in bringing about political transformation.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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