Serbia's student movement seeks police and judicial resignations before taking power

Serbia's student-led movement on Thursday asked for the resignation of senior officials in the police, the intelligence agencies and the judiciary, four days after winning a parliamentary election against the governing Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) of Aleksandar Vucic.

At a news conference in a central Belgrade park, representatives of the Students' List also urged the country's election authorities to formally declare the final results of Sunday's ballot without delay. A rerun is scheduled on November 1 at about 50 polling stations; once the results are certified, a new parliament and government can be formed.

The Students' List won Sunday's election against Mr. Vucic's right-wing SNS, which had governed for 14 years. The outgoing authorities remain in office while the formal transfer of power, expected to take several weeks, is completed.

“Changes are starting now,” student Filip Ubovic told reporters at the park, which had earlier been sealed off and occupied by supporters of Mr. Vucic. “Institutions belong to the citizens and the law applies to everyone.”

Since coming to power in 2012, the SNS has steadily extended its influence over state institutions. The party has been accused of corruption and cronyism, links to organised crime, and pressure on the judiciary, the police and the media. It has denied the allegations.

The students asked public servants to prevent outgoing officials from destroying documents or evidence of possible wrongdoing.

Mr. Vucic held a news conference of his own on Thursday, accusing the election winners of “revolutionary terror” after groups of people entered the premises of Informer TV, a station that carried pre-election coverage portraying the students as traitors and enemies of the state.

The movement grew out of street protests that began two years ago over suspected corruption in infrastructure projects, after a canopy collapsed at a railway station in northern Serbia following renovation work, killing 16 people. The students led those demonstrations before challenging Mr. Vucic at the early election.

Sunday's result is the first time a grassroots youth movement has defeated an established political leader in the country, at a time when comparable movements have been gaining ground elsewhere in Europe.

The students said at their briefing that senior police officials and the intelligence agencies had acted in the interest of the SNS during the protests, in violation of the law. Protesters and opposition figures have alleged excessive force, illegal surveillance, detention and pressure on political opponents. The outgoing authorities have rejected such claims.

The students also called for changes in the judiciary and for urgent investigations into corruption cases at the highest level that may have been set aside under political pressure. They promised that all contracts and public spending agreements would be reviewed.

“The Students' List is not here to take revenge,” Mr. Ubovic said. “We are not asking for political service but for adherence to the law, professionalism and responsibility.”

There was no immediate response from the police commanders, judges and prosecutors whose resignations were sought.

Manja Grcic, general manager of the state broadcaster RTS, has resigned. The broadcaster's Novi Sad branch, in the city where the 2024 railway station tragedy occurred, has apologised to viewers for selective and unprofessional reporting.

Serbia formally seeks membership of the European Union, but its bid has stalled over concerns about democratic backsliding and close ties with Russia. EU officials have offered to help the incoming authorities strengthen democracy and the rule of law.