By Basant El-Faramawy
A leaderless student-led protest movement swept former President Aleksandar Vucic from power in a historic snap election on Sunday, leaving Serbia waiting to learn who will be appointed prime minister and fill other key ministerial posts. The student-backed electoral list includes several prominent figures from academia, sports, and finance.
Dejan Soskic: Former Central Bank Governor
Dejan Soskic, 59, an economist and professor at the University of Belgrade's Faculty of Economics, served as governor of the National Bank of Serbia from 2010 to 2012. He resigned in protest over legislative changes he argued compromised the bank's independence and has been a vocal critic of Vucic's government. Soskic advocates prudent public finances to support wage and pension increases and has proposed adjusting the dinar's exchange rate to boost export competitiveness.
Ilija Srdanovic: Cardiologist and Professor
Ilija Srdanovic, 55, a practicing cardiologist and professor at the University of Novi Sad Faculty of Medicine, became the student movement's lead candidate in September. He rose to prominence during anti-corruption demonstrations and participated in a "Guardians of the Constitution" bicycle tour across Vojvodina. Srdanovic campaigns for a decentralized health system based on equality and says his political goal is building "a better Serbia." He maintains that Kosovo remains an integral part of Serbia and that EU integration is not an immediate priority.
Dejan Bodiroga: Basketball Star Turned Politician
Dejan Bodiroga, 53, former captain of the Yugoslav national basketball team and current EuroLeague president, is one of the movement's most visible public speakers. He described the election as a fight "for the return of a country that has been hijacked." Bodiroga's sports career includes back-to-back FIBA World Championship gold medals in 1998 and 2002 and an Olympic silver in 1996. During the campaign, he appeared at student rallies and participated in folk dancing in rural areas.
Radomir Saicic: Chemistry Professor and Activist
Radomir Saicic, 64, an organic chemistry professor and member of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, addressed crowds at the movement's headquarters after Vucic conceded defeat, hailing a "citizens' victory." His research focuses on chemotherapy treatments and antiviral therapies. Saicic joined protests after the 2024 Novi Sad railway station canopy collapse and became a target of pro-government media after signing a petition demanding Vucic's resignation. He describes Serbia as "occupied from within" and supports energy ties with Russia.
