Marko Đenadić, a representative of the Student List, student and teaching associate at the Faculty of Technical Sciences in Novi Sad, said that the group recognizes the concerns surrounding the ongoing transfer of power in Serbia but believes that some people within state institutions are continuing to perform their duties responsibly.
Speaking on the Demostat Half an Hour podcast, Đenadić said the transition carries certain security risks, given Serbia’s relatively young democracy and limited experience with peaceful changes of government.
“The transition of power currently underway understandably raises concerns, and there is a certain security risk because we are a relatively young democracy, unaccustomed to these normal changes taking place without a degree of instability,” Đenadić said.
He noted that Serbia still has a technical government led by Đuro Macut, whose members remain under oath and have a responsibility to ensure the continued functioning of the state.
Asked whether the Student List was relying on the goodwill of the defeated ruling regime during the transition or had mechanisms to exercise oversight, Đenadić said there was communication with employees within state institutions who did not want to expose themselves to criminal liability.
He said the Student List expects the constitutive session of the Serbian Parliament to be convened as soon as possible, allowing a new government to be formed sooner than the legal deadline. He stressed that substantial operational work would be required, including establishing ministries and coordinating with the state administration.
Among the key priorities, Đenadić identified the prosecution service, the courts and legislative changes in the justice sector, arguing that these are essential for restoring public confidence and security. He also highlighted energy security, the situation surrounding Serbia’s oil company NIS and the financial sector.
Another priority for the new parliamentary majority, he said, will be the appointment of the ninth member of the Council of the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media (REM), which would allow the body to begin functioning properly.
According to Đenadić, the regulator’s work has effectively gone unchecked, contributing to a poor media environment in Serbia. He argued that the situation has continued during the transitional period because institutions have yet to become fully operational.
“The former government is still not former, and it is naturally trying to retain the tools through which it exercised control,” he said.
Đenadić also revealed that the Student List has several potential candidates for prime minister but declined to confirm or deny the names circulating in public. He similarly refused to disclose potential presidential candidates or say whether a woman could be nominated for either of the two positions.
Addressing criticism over the students’ decision to delay announcing their parliamentary candidates, Đenadić said the strategy had proven successful and suggested that they might continue using the same approach.
