Serbia’s students achieved the impossible. Europe must not fail them now
Some EU leaders courted the authoritarian Vučić regime – they must offer this reborn democracy a future within the union
TL;DR
- Aleksandar Vučić conceded defeat after his party lost the election, an unexpected outcome after nearly 15 years of his rule.
- Civil society organizations faced cyber-attacks, spyware attempts, and vilification under Vučić's regime.
- Activists and journalists experienced repression, including house fires, beatings, and politically motivated prosecutions.
- A key factor in the election outcome may have been uncertainty over the loyalty of Serbia's security forces.
- The victory is attributed to students and hundreds of thousands who marched and endured intimidation, challenging the belief that resistance was futile.
- Serbia's geographic location and proximity to the EU played a role, and Europe now has an opportunity to support the country's democratic consolidation.
- Dismantling authoritarian institutions, restoring the rule of law, freeing media, and ensuring security services serve citizens are the next crucial steps.