Serbia's student movement seeks to govern after Vucic ouster

· Politics · Serbia · Russia

Serbia's student-led protest movement is preparing to start talks on forming a government capable of reversing 14 years of increasingly authoritarian nationalist rule, after a seismic weekend election that ended Aleksandar Vucic's tenure. Vucic conceded defeat, his first loss of power since 2014. The non-hierarchical movement, which has no clear leader and no experience governing, says it wants to "rebuild society." In Moscow, the defeat cast gloom, depriving Russia of an ally just six months after Hungary's Viktor Orban was ousted. Hopes are raised for a reset in Serbia's relations with the EU and other partners.

Why it matters：An untested citizen movement taking power in a Balkan state could reset its EU ties and erode Russian influence in Europe.

Key points

  • Vucic conceded after holding power since 2014.
  • The movement has no clear leader and no governing experience.
  • Moscow lost another European ally after Orban's ouster.

Sources (original reporting)

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