Serbia’s Student List faces major tests after its election victory

Kosovo and European ties

The Student List regards Kosovo as part of Serbia, despite Kosovo’s declaration of independence from Belgrade in 2008. During the campaign, its candidates described the territory as temporarily occupied and proposed pursuing reintegration through peaceful diplomacy and dialogue.

The group wants to curb the departure of Serbs from northern Kosovo and strengthen Serbian-funded healthcare and education. It also calls for autonomy for local Serb communities and rejects earlier agreements with Pristina on energy, licence plates and the dinar.

The party avoided divisive foreign policy questions during its campaign. Prominent candidates Dejan Soskic and Ilija Srdanovic have said Serbia should prioritize domestic reforms and complete EU negotiating clusters before holding a definitive vote on membership.

Pressure over Russia and energy

The movement says it will not align with the EU by imposing sanctions on Moscow over the war in Ukraine. Serbia depends on US sanctions waivers for crude imports while Russia’s stake in oil company NIS awaits a sale to Hungary’s MOL; NIS runs the country’s only oil refinery.

Gazprom supplies around 2.2 billion cubic meters of gas to Serbia each year at below-market prices. The Student List describes the reliance as an economic necessity, not a geopolitical alignment, and says a future government would end arms exports to war zones, including sales passed on to Ukraine through Western intermediaries.

Anti-corruption and economic plans

The movement proposes an independent police unit answerable to prosecutors, along with removing officers it links to organized crime or violent protest crackdowns. It also wants transparent hiring at state-owned companies instead of appointments for party loyalists.

Its plans include a law enabling audits and recovery of wealth officials acquired illegally, and a ban on convicted officials holding public office. The group also proposes public review of major infrastructure contracts and independent bodies to oversee public spending.

On the economy, the Student List wants to challenge retail monopolies to reduce food prices and change taxes, increasing levies on wealthier people while reducing them for lower-income groups. It has also pledged to substantially shorten the maximum period for temporary work.