Serbia’s student movement on Thursday demanded the resignation of senior officials in the police, intelligence agencies and the judiciary, as it prepares to take power after a historic election victory last weekend over former strongman Aleksandar Vucic. At a press conference, the students also called on Serbia’s electoral authorities to officially announce the final results of Sunday’s vote without delay, following a re-run in around 50 polling stations next Sunday, so that a new parliament and government can be formed. The “List of Students” movement won the parliamentary elections against Vucic’s Serbian Progressive Party, which has governed unchallenged for 14 years.
Filip Ubovic, a student, stressed that “changes are starting now” and that “institutions belong to the citizens and the law applies to everyone”. Vucic’s party has gradually taken control of all state institutions since coming to power in 2012, and has been accused of unbridled corruption, nepotism, links to organized crime and pressure on the judiciary, police and media. The students urged public employees to prevent departing officials from destroying documentation or possible evidence of violations. For his part, Vucic accused the election winners of “revolutionary terror” after attacks on the Informer television station, which had led the pre-election propaganda by labeling the students as traitors.
The students’ victory marks the first time a grassroots youth movement has toppled an entrenched political leader, coming at a time when similar movements are emerging across Europe. The win follows a wave of street protests led by students two years ago, triggered by suspicions of state corruption in infrastructure projects after a canopy collapsed at a railway station, killing 16 people. The students accused senior police and intelligence officials of serving Vucic’s party during the protests, using excessive force, illegal surveillance and pressure against political opponents. They also demanded changes in the judiciary and urgent investigations into high-level corruption cases, promising to review all public spending contracts and agreements. The director general of Serbian state broadcaster RTS, Manja Grcic, has resigned, while the public broadcaster’s branch in Novi Sad has apologized for selective and unprofessional reporting. Serbia is seeking membership of the European Union, but the bid has stalled under Vucic due to democratic backsliding and close ties with Russia.
Taken from AP News