They won on corruption grounds - now a tug-of-war with the EU awaits

Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic quickly conceded defeat after the October 25 election. Despite the clear election result, the final vote count is only now complete, and the new parliament can be convened. After that, a government must be formed within 90 days.

The election's big winner, the Studentlistan movement, received 52.7 percent of the vote and an absolute majority on a program that mainly aims to eradicate corruption in the country, "stop the looting and return stolen property to the state budget, invest in education and the economy."

The list was elected as a non-hierarchical movement with clear ideas about different forms of direct democracy, but without a clear leader - and who will lead the new government is unclear.

The speculation is topped by some of the list's more prominent representatives. This includes Ilija Srdanović, 55, a cardiologist and professor at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Novi Sad, who has often championed the cause of the movement. Economist Desan Soscic, 59, was central bank governor from 2010 to 2012 and resigned in protest against new legislation he believed compromised the bank's independence. One of the measures he has now proposed to boost Serbia's economy is a devaluation of the local currency. Soscic's name is also mentioned as possible for the role of finance minister - or as president (presidential elections are held in December).

One of the more famous profiles of the student movement is the former basketball pro Degan Bodiroga, 53, who has a kind of star status. A fourth name mentioned is Radomir Saicic, 64, a professor of organic chemistry who early joined the student protests when they broke out in 2024.

The majority of active members of the Student List have an academic background, and they share the outrage against corruption. The pressure for change has already had an effect. Just three days after the election, the head of Serbia's state broadcaster RTS resigned, in direct response to demands from the Student List.

The political influence of the telecasts has grown under Vucic, and getting rid of it has been high on the Student List's agenda.

But beyond the fight against corruption, the list's political program is relatively limited, and the leading figures do not share a unified political line either. It also paves the way for foreign policy uncertainty. Serbia is a candidate country for the EU and the Student List is expected to continue the dialogue with the EU institutions - although not with EU membership as the highest priority.

On one important point, the movement is on the contrary in a clinch with Brussels: It is skeptical of Kosovo's independence and believes that Kosovo should be part of Serbia.

Several of the list's representatives are also outspoken opponents of sanctions against Russia - "such methods do not solve any problems", as chemist Radomir Saicic told the Russian news agency RIA Novosti. On the contrary, he believes that Serbia should import Russian energy.

EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos, for her part, has emphasized in a conversation with the Student List's representative and doctor Ilija Srdanović that continued EU rapprochement for Serbia requires that the country adapts its foreign and security policy to the Union's line.