Serbia's new student-led assembly convenes
The 250-seat parliament is scheduled to meet on Nov. 17, with a 90-day deadline set for forming a new cabinet.
By Carlos Rousseau ·
Serbia's new parliament will hold its first session on Nov. 17.
Ana Brnabic, the outgoing speaker, announced the date on Sunday. She set the timeline after election officials confirmed the results of the Oct. 25 vote last week. The first order of business is to elect a new speaker and establish parliamentary committees. A new government must be formed within 90 days of that initial meeting.
The political shift began in Nov. 2024 when a train station canopy collapsed in northern Serbia. The accident killed 16 people and sparked protests that many attributed to corruption in state infrastructure projects. The demonstrations continued for two years. The movement, known as the Students' List, built its coalition around these grievances. The group challenged the Serbian Progressive Party, which had held power for nearly 14 years.
The final results show the Students' List winning 140 of the 250 seats. The Serbian Progressive Party secured 103 seats. Ethnic minority parties hold the remaining positions. The student candidates are mostly professors, teachers, and other experts with limited political experience. They campaigned on restoring the rule of law and ending corruption that they said thrived under Aleksandar Vucic.
Vucic resigned as president on Sept. 27. He stepped down after failing to secure the prime ministerial role. Serbia must hold an early presidential election by the end of 2026. Although the students have not yet taken office, the change in power dynamics has already led to new detentions. Authorities are investigating suspected election fraud, attacks on protesters, and corruption cases. Vucic has described these moves as a revolutionary terror, even though his party remains in control of state institutions.
The Serbian Progressive Party has faced accusations of cronyism and links to organized crime, which it has denied. The student movement's victory has drawn attention across Europe. Many nations are currently experiencing youth-led protests. Serbia is formally seeking entry into the European Union, a process that stalled during Vucic's tenure. He maintained close ties with Russia and China while the accession negotiations remained dormant.
