Four university students representing higher education institutions in Belgrade, Novi Sad, Niš, and Kragujevac expressed absolute confidence that an independent student-led ticket could secure victory in Serbia’s upcoming parliamentary elections.
Appearing on Sunday night’s prominent political talk show “Utisak nedelje” (Impression of the Week), the student representatives argued that breaking away from traditional political blocs is essential to achieving political change.
A New Generation Entering the Political Arena
When asked by host Olja Bećković whether a standalone student ticket could realistically win an election, Tara Blagojević, a master’s student at the Faculty of Political Sciences in Belgrade, stated that running independently is the only logical path forward.
“How else could we do it?” Blagojević noted, as reported by Nova.rs. “We see that the opposition is incapable of uniting; they change their positions every week. Our stance isn’t arrogant—it is firmly rooted in the necessity for a brand-new, young political alternative.”
The panel of guests on the program featured:
- Ljiljana Knežević – Faculty of Philosophy, University of Novi Sad (representing the “Mladi Kule” Initiative)
- Tara Blagojević – Faculty of Political Sciences, University of Belgrade
- Luka Đorđević – Faculty of Law, University of Niš
- Jovan Mišeljić – Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac
Backlash Against the Traditional Opposition
The student leaders leveled sharp criticism at Serbia’s established opposition parties, arguing that traditional politicians have eroded public trust.
Jovan Mišeljić pointed out that voters have grown deeply disillusioned with the opposition’s strategic missteps, which he claims have repeatedly played into the hands of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS). He pointed specifically to local elections, where opposition boycott decisions “carelessly handed power over to the SNS.”
Luka Đorđević added that the very opposition leaders who previously championed election boycots have now turned their focus toward undermining the student movement.
“Today, those same leaders are the primary opponents of our student list. They are attacking us aggressively and doing everything in their power to chip away at our polling percentages,” Đorđević stated.
A List Curated by Students, But Free of Politicians
In a notable strategic twist, Mišeljić confirmed that the actual ballot list compiled by the students will not feature established politicians or traditional student activists.
“The candidates have been carefully selected by students,” Mišeljić explained. “These are individuals of high moral and professional integrity who have never held public office. The full composition of the list will be officially unveiled the moment the elections are formally called.”
