Who Will Govern? The Student List’s Path to a Cabinet — and a Presidential Vote

Winning a majority does not by itself put the Student List in government. Under Serbia’s constitution, the president nominates a prime minister after consulting the lists elected to parliament, and the National Assembly must then confirm a cabinet. If no government is elected within 90 days of the assembly being constituted, parliament is dissolved.

An acting president from the other camp

That nomination will come from Ana Brnabić, the parliamentary speaker and a long-standing ally of Aleksandar Vučić, who became acting president when he resigned on 27 September. A new presidential election must be completed within 90 days of his resignation — in practice by late December.

No leader by design

The movement campaigned without a figurehead. Its list was headed by Ilija Srdanović, a cardiologist and professor at the University of Novi Sad. Other prominent candidates include Dejan Šoškić, a former central bank governor, and former basketball player Dejan Bodiroga. Vučić claimed during the campaign that Šoškić was the students’ choice for prime minister; the movement has not confirmed this.

What they promised

The programme centres on institutions: full transparency in public procurement, audits of state-funded projects, publication of all contracts and tenders, confiscation of illegally acquired assets and lustration. On foreign policy it is cautious — the list opposes recognising Kosovo and has said it does not plan to impose sanctions on Russia, while Serbia remains an EU candidate.

Choosing a prime minister and fielding a presidential candidate now fall within roughly the same two months.