How students toppled Serbia’s strongman

In this episode of Today in Focus, host Helen Pidd explores the remarkable shift in Serbia's political landscape as students mobilized to defeat Aleksandr Vucic, who had ruled for 12 years. The episode features insights from Serbian-American journalist Anna Milisaljevic and student leaders Tara Blagović and Milica Jovanovic. Vucic's authoritarian regime faced growing opposition from a leaderless student movement that embraced a collective approach to governance, opting to nominate experts as candidates instead of traditional politicians.

The impetus for the movement arose from a tragic event in November 2024, where a train station collapse killed 16 people, prompting calls for accountability and reform. Over the course of the next two years, students organized protests and blockades at universities, raising awareness and advocating for pivotal changes in national governance. The demand for early elections was met with unexpected success when a student-led coalition garnered significant electoral support, resulting in the election of numerous candidates with advanced degrees, including professors and professionals from various fields.

As they navigate the complexities of governing a nation with a history of political oppression and corruption, key questions loom regarding their capacity to enact change as political novices. How will this new government address the challenges left by its predecessors, and can a decentralized student movement maintain effectiveness in a structured political environment? This episode delves into these pressing issues and highlights the optimism surrounding this unprecedented shift in Serbian politics.