Serbia Student List Names Six Leaders

The Students' List has officially named six individuals to lead its political movement following its electoral victory. The roster includes Dejan Soskic, an economist and former National Bank of Serbia governor, who is positioned as a central figure in the new administration. Soskic, 59, served as bank governor from 2010 to 2012. Since leaving that post, he has criticized domestic corruption, stating it is "much more prevalent [in Serbia] than in neighboring countries." He has pledged to fire "bad staff" from government roles and investigate property ownership by public officials. The group also aims to speed up European Union accession reforms, with the final decision to be made by referendum. Soskic has also criticized Western sanctions on Russia and called for a revised approach from Brussels.

The list's lead candidate is Ilija Srdanovic, a 56-year-old cardiologist and professor at the University of Novi Sad. He was named to the top spot in September. Srdanovic has not ruled out becoming prime minister but noted the list has "more than one candidate for every position." He prioritizes tackling organized crime and corruption. He supports Serbia's claims on Kosovo and stated that EU accession decisions "will be made by the citizens."

Dejan Bodiroga, a 53-year-old former basketball star, is the third prominent name on the list. He currently serves as president of Euroleague Basketball. Serbian media have described him as the list's "most famous name," though his specific policy positions remain undefined. Bodiroga has condemned the government's treatment of student protesters, who he says were portrayed as "terrorists." At rallies, he urged protesters to "fight for freedom, for dignity."

Estela Radonjic Zivkov, a cultural heritage expert, was included after becoming a key figure in the scandal surrounding a planned Trump-branded hotel. She accused the government of violating heritage laws to approve the project on the site of Belgrade's NATO-damaged General Staff building. Zivkov was later removed from her deputy director position at the Republic Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments. She wants to "restore independence and professional integrity to protection institutions."

Zoran Djajic, a 71-year-old engineer, joined the group after publicly blaming corruption for the fatal collapse of the Novi Sad railway station canopy. He photographed poor construction work at the site during his role as a stonework consultant, which ended in 2023. Djajic criticized former leader Aleksandar Vucic and was arrested in April 2025 after calling for a death penalty vote. Since the election, he vowed Vucic would face charges of high treason, writing that "the time of truth and justice is coming!"

Tihomir Stanic, a 65-year-old actor, completed the initial leadership team. He resigned from Belgrade's Academy of Arts in October 2025, citing a "gross violation of academic practice and integrity that culminated in threats to students." He has called for removing politics from cultural institutions, claiming the Vucic government determined who would manage theaters and who would be punished.

The six named individuals represent a mix of technocrats, professionals, and public figures selected to manage the transition.