Serbia after Vucic: The winners are losing patience

Key Points:

• Aleksandar Vucic, Serbia's long-time president, lost the October 25 election to the Student List, a coalition of professors, activists, and artists, which won 53% of the vote, signaling a major political shift in the country.
• Following the election, Vucic accused the winners of "revolutionary terror" and threatened to organize resistance if attacks on dissenters continue; meanwhile, state media leadership tied to Vucic has been replaced, and tabloid coverage has softened.
• The Student List aims to implement domestic reforms, advance EU accession talks, and maintain Serbia’s traditional foreign policy stances, including opposition to sanctions on Russia and non-recognition of Kosovo, reflecting broad public consensus.
• Investigations into alleged corruption, electoral fraud, and abuses of power under Vucic’s regime have begun, spurred by public outrage over incidents like the fatal Novi Sad railway station collapse linked to corruption.
• Despite the election outcome, Vucic’s party still holds significant power, raising concerns about potential obstruction, but the Student List has reportedly established contacts within police and administration to prevent sabotage and is calling for resignations of key officials.