Volunteers clean Belgrade park after Student List wins election

Volunteers equipped with bin bags and cleaning supplies gathered at Pioneers Park in Belgrade on the morning following the Student List's parliamentary election victory. The small park, situated opposite the national assembly, had been closed to the public for 18 months. It was previously occupied by a pro-government encampment known as Ćaciland, which housed convicted criminals in white tents and frequently clashed with journalists and passersby.

The cleanup effort began after a chaotic election night that briefly threatened to repeat previous violent confrontations. Approximately 30 minutes before polls closed, masked men dressed in black assembled in and around the park. Their presence fueled concerns that the governing Serbian Progressive Party, or SNS, would resist losing power. Instead, President Aleksandar Vučić addressed supporters at SNS headquarters shortly after polls closed, declaring a comprehensive defeat for his party. He stated he did not want unrest in the streets, prompting riot police to stand aside and barriers to be removed.

Student List supporters subsequently ransacked the Ćaciland camp and set fire to several tents. On the following day, hundreds of volunteers worked alongside municipal workers to restore the site. Tasks included dismantling damaged tents and disinfecting playground equipment such as swings, slides, and climbing frames. Radomir Dalic, who searched the grass for cigarette butts, described the removal of the camp as getting rid of criminals with violent intentions. He noted that despite the mess, the air smelled like freedom.

Tamara Tomic, wearing yellow rubber gloves, said the collective effort demonstrated a desire for a normal life free from violence. Car horns sounded throughout the day as drivers passed the cleanup crew, signaling public support for the restoration of the public space. The removal of the camp serves as a tangible symbol of the shift in power, with many voters hoping other changes will follow.

The Student List now faces the challenge of governing without a traditional hierarchy or a single leader. Its candidates were selected through student assemblies and include academics, athletes, economists, and engineers. The movement published an 11-point plan focused on anti-corruption, judicial reform, media freedom, affordable housing, and healthcare improvements, including a pledge to provide a doctor in every village. It did not name a prime ministerial candidate or a cabinet before the vote.

Analysts warn that the lack of a clear leadership structure could lead to internal fractures soon after victory. Kurt Bassuener, co-founder of the Democratization Policy Council, expressed hope that the movement has credible people ready for each portfolio. Ilija Srdanović, the first-ranked candidate and a cardiologist at the university in Novi Sad, emphasized that the movement is democratic and aims to avoid a cult of personality. He clarified that his top ranking does not automatically make him prime minister, noting that numerous candidates could fill the role.

Foreign policy remains a point of uncertainty for the new government. President Vučić had warned that a Student List government would sanction Russia and recognize Kosovo's declaration of independence. However, the movement's official positions on these issues remain opaque. Michael Davenport, a former EU and UK ambassador to Serbia, observed that EU flags were not prominent at student demonstrations. He noted a lack of consensus within the coalition on issues such as EU accession, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and especially Kosovo.

For now, many residents are content to postpone questions about governance strategy. The immediate focus has been on reclaiming public spaces from the old order. The cleanup of Pioneers Park marks the first visible step in the transition, with the Student List voters watching closely to see if further changes materialize.