(Adnkronos) – The future Serbian government, resulting from the victory of the Student List in the legislative elections, is “absolutely” committed to the path towards the European Union and looks to a future for the country within it, but will continue to oppose sanctions against Russia. This was clarified by Mirjana Nikolić, a prominent figure of the “Student List”, whose victory in the snap election on October 25 ended 14 years of government by the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), the formation led by Aleksandar Vučić, speaking with AFP.
In an interview with AFP, Nikolić, rector of the University of Arts in Belgrade, stated that the new majority will prioritize internal issues, focusing on the fight against corruption. On the international front, the commitment to EU membership remains firm. “This absolutely remains a strategic objective,” Nikolić declared. “Almost all our neighbors are EU members. From a geostrategic and geopolitical point of view, we are in Europe.” However, the candidates supported by the students – awaiting final results to begin forming the government – have clarified that they will not impose sanctions against Moscow, despite Brussels’ requests to adopt measures against Russia after the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. “The students and colleagues who drafted that part of the program were very clear: they oppose sanctions against Russia,” Nikolić explained. Belgrade has historical ties with Russia and largely depends on its low-cost gas.
The electoral victory comes after almost two years of protests, triggered by the collapse – which occurred in 2024 – of the Novi Sad railway station canopy, an incident that caused the death of 16 people. The tragedy, which affected a newly renovated station, was widely attributed to corruption and sparked the largest demonstrations in Serbia since the fall of strongman Slobodan Milošević in 2000. According to Nikolić, after Vučić’s admission of defeat, the judiciary seems to have “suddenly woken up,” initiating a series of criminal investigations.
“We are firmly convinced that, once corruption is eradicated, our country will become extremely rich,” stated the sixty-year-old academic. The flagship projects of the outgoing government have been at the center of corruption accusations for years: from the impressive urban regeneration plan along the banks of the Sava River to the numerous construction sites launched in the capital in view of Expo 2027. Now, the “Student List” has promised to scrutinize dubious contracts and investigate any wrongdoings committed by outgoing officials.
According to the electoral commission, the “Student List” obtained 53% of the votes, against 39% for Vučić’s coalition. The result assigns the movement approximately 140 seats in the 250-member parliament. Nikolić expects that, once the results are confirmed, the new parliament and government will be formed quickly. “We are preparing very seriously, studying the laws, parliamentary procedures, and the duties of deputies,” she declared, referring to the experts who will enter parliament as new faces in politics.
The government – she clarified, however – intends to proceed cautiously, avoiding hasty reforms. “Although everyone expects very rapid changes, haste can sometimes lead to mistakes.”
