Inside the leaderless movement set to govern Serbia

Live updates

1. 2h ago

   Student-led movement prepares to govern Serbia after ousting Vucic

   The Student List opposition coalition won a decisive election victory, ending 14 years of rule by strongman Aleksandar Vucic. The movement, characterized by a leaderless structure and direct democracy, is now tasked with forming a government but has not yet selected a leader. Supporters are demanding sweeping resignations of state officials, graft probes, and the dismantling of the previous regime's institutions. While the movement successfully mobilized hundreds of thousands of voters, it now faces the challenge of transitioning from a protest force to a governing body.

   Why it matters

   The victory represents a shift toward direct democracy in Serbia, driven largely by Gen Z students. This transition occurs as the country scrutinizes its previous weapons-buying habits and institutional corruption. The outcome serves as a case study for organizing power and toppling autocratic regimes in Europe.

   What is confirmed

   • The Student List opposition coalition won the parliamentary elections in Serbia.
   • Aleksandar Vucic was ousted from power after 14 years.
   • The movement that defeated Vucic utilized a leaderless structure and direct democracy.
   • The incoming government has not yet decided who will lead it.
   • Student-backed winners are calling for the resignation of key state officials and probes into graft.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Serbia's potential new leaders include a banker, a basketball star, a cardiologist, and a chemist.
   • The government is currently focusing on cleaning up rotten institutions through swift justice.

   What to watch next

   • The appointment of the formal head of the new Serbian government
   • The outcome of graft probes into former state officials
   • The results of the review into Serbia's weapons-buying habits
   Sources used for this update (24)

   1. The Guardian — A leaderless revolution has swept Serbia. The world should be watching
   2. Reuters — The banker, the basketball star, the cardiologist and the chemist: meet Serbia's potential new leaders
   3. Al Jazeera — What European students can learn from their Serbian peers
   4. Defense News — After Vucic ouster, Serbia’s weapons-buying habits are under the microscope
   5. Reuters — Serbia's victorious students call for key state officials to resign, graft probes
   6. The Economist — Serbia’s students found a new way to topple a strongman
   7. BBC — Student-backed election winners demand sweeping resignations in Serbia
   8. The Nation — How the Serbian Student Movement Is a Victory for Organizing Power
   9. The Guardian — ‘Swift justice’: Student List supporters focus on cleaning up Serbia’s rotten institutions
   10. dw.com — Serbia after Vucic: The winners are losing patience
   11. Financial Times — Inside the leaderless movement set to govern Serbia
   12. WSJ — Serbia’s Gen Z Students Toppled a Strongman. Now Comes the Hard Part.
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