Serbia’s Students’ List, a political movement backed by the country’s student protest movement, has secured a reported victory in parliamentary elections without designating a single leader. As negotiations over the formation of a new government approach, attention is turning to the academics, professionals, athletes and cultural figures associated with the movement.
With the identity of Serbia’s next prime minister still undecided, several prominent figures have outlined their priorities, including fighting corruption, strengthening the rule of law, reforming state institutions and addressing Serbia’s European integration.
Dejan Šoškić: Former central bank governor
Dejan Šoškić, an economist who served as governor of the National Bank of Serbia from 2010 to 2012, is among the movement’s most experienced figures in senior public office.
Since leaving the central bank, Šoškić has repeatedly criticized corruption in Serbia, describing it as more widespread than in neighboring countries.
The 59-year-old has pledged that a government led by the Students’ List would remove what he calls incompetent officials from public positions and launch investigations into the property holdings of public officials.
He has also called for accelerating the reforms required for Serbia’s EU accession, while arguing that the final decision on membership should be made through a referendum.
Šoškić has criticized Western sanctions against Russia and called on Brussels to reconsider its approach toward Moscow, reflecting one of the foreign-policy questions that the incoming government will have to address.
Ilija Srdanović: Cardiologist and university professor
Ilija Srdanović, a 56-year-old cardiologist and professor at the University of Novi Sad, was appointed head of the Students’ List in September.
He has not ruled out becoming prime minister but has emphasized that the movement has several potential candidates for each government position.
Srdanović has identified the fight against organized crime and corruption as a central priority. He has also maintained Serbia’s claims regarding Kosovo and said that citizens should ultimately decide whether Serbia joins the European Union.
His potential role in the new government will be closely watched as the movement moves from an electoral campaign toward formal negotiations over leadership and ministerial appointments.
Dejan Bodiroga: Basketball star and EuroLeague president
Dejan Bodiroga, the former basketball star who currently serves as president of EuroLeague Basketball, is among the most recognizable public figures associated with the movement.
The 53-year-old’s precise political positions remain unclear, but he has criticized the government’s treatment of student protesters and its portrayal of them as “terrorists.”
During protest gatherings, Bodiroga urged demonstrators to fight for freedom, dignity and a society based on mutual respect, justice and solidarity rather than hatred and division.
His public profile could make him an influential voice in the movement, although his potential role in government has not been established.
Estela Radonjić Živkov: Advocate for cultural heritage protection
Estela Radonjić Živkov, an expert in cultural heritage, became a prominent figure in the controversy surrounding plans to build a Trump-branded hotel on the site of Belgrade’s former General Staff complex, which was damaged during NATO’s 1999 bombing campaign.
While serving as deputy director of Serbia’s Republican Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments, Živkov accused the government of violating cultural heritage legislation to clear the way for the project. She was subsequently dismissed from her position.
She has said that her priority in a government led by the Students’ List would be to restore the independence and professional integrity of cultural heritage institutions.
She has also called for experts to be able to make decisions based on the law and professional standards, free from political and economic pressure.
Zoran Gjajić: Engineer who raised concerns over Novi Sad station works
Engineer Zoran Gjajić was among the first to publicly blame corruption for the deadly collapse of the railway station canopy in Novi Sad in November 2024, which killed 16 people.
Gjajić worked as a stonework consultant on the station project until 2023. During that period, he photographed and reported what he considered to be poor-quality construction that posed a safety risk.
The 71-year-old has been a vocal critic of Aleksandar Vučić. He was arrested in April 2025 after calling on people to vote for the death penalty for the then-president, according to the supplied report.
Following the Students’ List’s reported election victory, Gjajić said Vučić should face charges of high treason and wrote that “the time of truth and justice is coming.”
His statements reflect his personal position; any criminal allegations against political figures would need to be assessed through the appropriate legal process.
Tihomir Stanić: Actor calling for political independence in cultural institutions
Tihomir Stanić, a 65-year-old actor born in what is now Bosnia and Herzegovina, has appeared in more than 130 film and television productions.
In October 2025, he resigned from Belgrade’s Academy of Arts alongside several colleagues, citing what they described as serious violations of academic practice and integrity that culminated in threats against students.
Stanić has called for political influence to be removed from Serbia’s cultural institutions. He has criticized the Vučić government for interfering in decisions about theater management, employment and professional opportunities.
His involvement reflects the movement’s links with cultural figures who have opposed what they view as political interference in academic and artistic life.
A diverse movement facing its first major test
The figures associated with the Students’ List come from a range of professional backgrounds, including economics, medicine, sports, cultural heritage, engineering and the arts.
Their common themes include demands for greater institutional independence, action against corruption and an end to political interference in public life. However, their positions on foreign policy — particularly Serbia’s relationship with the EU, Russia and Kosovo — are not necessarily identical.
The movement’s decision to avoid appointing a single leader has helped it present itself as a collective political project. That structure could also complicate the process of selecting a prime minister, agreeing on a cabinet and establishing a unified government program.
As negotiations begin, the central question is how the Students’ List will turn its reported electoral mandate into a functioning administration while reconciling the priorities of its diverse group of representatives.
