After a victory that changed the political balance in Serbia, the enthusiasm of the Student List is being replaced by the hardest question: who will lead the new government. So far there is no official name, but in political and media circles Ilija Srdanović, a cardiologist and university professor, is emerging as the most talked-about figure for the post of prime minister.
From protest movement to force that took power
The Student List moved from street mobilization to electoral victory, becoming the force that removed Aleksandar Vučić from power. This transition now puts it before its toughest test: turning the capital of protest into concrete governance.
No official candidate, but one name dominates the discussion
Despite the victory, the Student List has not yet announced a candidate for prime minister. According to assessments by experts cited in reports, this is linked to the way this political force has been built, with a structure aimed at distinguishing itself from the establishment it has criticized for corruption and capture of the system.
In this official vacuum, the name being mentioned most is that of Ilija Srdanović, who headed the list of this new political force.
Who is Ilija Srdanović
Srdanović is 56 years old, a cardiologist and university professor from Novi Sad. He became better known during the campaign as an outspoken supporter of the students and of the wave of protests that changed the political climate in the country.
At the beginning of this year, he said that Serbia was no longer on the verge of change, but that change had already happened, linking this to the role of students in public and political life.
Support for the protests after the station tragedy
Srdanović publicly positioned himself on the side of the student protests after the tragedy of the collapse of the railway station shelter, an event that became a flashpoint for public discontent. This alignment strengthened his profile within the movement and made him one of its most recognizable faces.
However, the Student List insists that it does not operate with a single leader and that there are several possible candidates for every post. This means that Srdanović’s name remains, at least for the moment, part of a race that has yet to be officially declared.
The real challenge begins after the result
The parliamentary victory has brought one phase to an end, but not the uncertainty over the direction of the country. The challenge now is how a movement that rose on revolt against the existing order will translate its electoral mandate into government-building and decision-making.
It is precisely here that it will be tested whether the promise of a different kind of politics will go beyond the symbolism of protest and take shape in Serbia’s institutions.
For now, the question of the new prime minister remains open. What is clear is that after the election result, the pressure on the Student List is no longer measured in slogans, but in its ability to produce political direction and a functioning government.