Name? Aleksandar Vučić
Westphalian identity? Serbian
Age? 56
Why is he in the news? Aleksandar Vučić, former President of Serbia, lost a snap election against the student-led party, Student List. After two years of student protests and blockades, Vučić called for early elections, then resigned and ran as head of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS)-led United Serbia List. However, Student List defeated Vučić with nearly 53% of the vote, while the SNS obtained 39%, ending his twelve-year dominance over Serbian politics as prime minister and as president.
Why do we care? These students turned anti-government protests into parliamentary representation. Projections give the Student List between 135-140 of 250 seats in parliament, which gives them an outright majority, against 103 for SNS. Contrary to what its name suggests, however, the candidates representing the party are not students but academics, doctors, actors, farmers, and other professionals selected by students. Moreover, the party rejects hierarchical structure, promoting direct democracy and a horizontal form of decision-making, in contrast to Vučić’s government. The Student List offers a 11-point plan which centers on the fight against corruption, organised crime, and supporting social measures such as education, housing and healthcare.
Why should you care? Student protests are gaining momentum in France, Italy, Spain, Albania, Belgium, Greece, and Portugal, demonstrating for better education and lower living costs. However, these movements are still young compared to the one in Serbia, which has now defeated Vučić at the ballot box.
Who else cares? Vladimir Putin. Vučić was a close Russian ally and maintained Serbia’s purchase of large amounts of Russian gas. Moreover, Serbia is an official candidate for EU membership; however, its proximity to Russia and weak democratic institutions have hindered this process. Though their foreign policy remains unspecified, the recent election could reopen the path to European rapprochement.
Any further comments? These elections saw one of the highest voter turnout in the last 30 years with a participation rate of 68.8%.
