Serbia’s victorious students call for key state officials to resign, graft probes
The student-led movement sought changes at security and judicial institutions after winning Serbia’s parliamentary election.
TL;DR
- Serbia’s victorious student movement called for the resignations of senior police, intelligence and justice officials.
- It also sought corruption inquiries following its parliamentary election victory.
- The outgoing authorities remained in control while final results and a transfer of power were pending.
In Serbia, the student movement that won the parliamentary election on October 25 called for senior officials to resign. The demand came during a news conference in Belgrade on October 29, Reuters and the Associated Press reported. [1] [2]
The movement sought resignations from police leaders, state security and military intelligence officials, and prosecutors, according to Reuters. It also sought renewed or faster investigations into alleged corruption, including the 2024 Novi Sad railway station canopy collapse that killed 16 people. [1]
Student activist Filip Ubovic called for an audit of public institutions and asked public employees to preserve documents during the transition, Reuters reported. Vucic and his Serbian Progressive Party deny allegations of corruption and repression, the outlet said. [1]
The Associated Press said the outgoing authorities remained in control while a formal transfer was pending and that some polling stations were due to rerun voting. Whether officials resign and how the new government handles the requested investigations remain open. [2]
Why it matters
The demands reach into security and judicial institutions that will oversee the political transition. The call itself does not establish wrongdoing or ensure that officials will resign.
Editor's note
Reuters and the Associated Press independently reported the demands. Corruption allegations are attributed and denied; a demand is not evidence that resignations have occurred.