Serbian students and class

Vitomir Mandic

THE BEGINNING OF EVERYTHING

Having secured an absolute majority, the Student List will form part of the government during Serbia’s next parliamentary term. This list is the result of a long-standing movement comprising not only students but also people from various social classes and backgrounds. The list emerged from organised mass protests. The largest protests in recent times were those relating to the collapse of the railway station in Novi Sad on 1 January 2024; anti-violence protests that emerged following a school attack in 2023 and targeted, amongst other issues, the nature of the state and state-affiliated media; environmental protests organised in 2021 against the state’s collaboration with the Australian conglomerate Rio Tinto; as well as previous protests that also targeted corruption.

WAS IT REALLY THAT BAD?

Although the International Monetary Fund (IMF) praises Serbia’s economic growth[i], working-class wages are not enough to make ends meet. According to surveys, the average wage of around € 850 covers only half the cost of living[ii]. Without help from family members abroad, people are struggling to make ends meet. The opposition states that around 600,000 people left the country between 2012 and 2025[iii]. Farmers also feel powerless in the face of the global market and criticise the depopulation of rural areas across the country[iv]. Another problem in the country is the extremely poor air quality in major cities. Corrupt state structures are again held responsible for this situation[v]. The mass protests mentioned above also reflect the day-to-day concerns of ordinary workers and farmers in the country.

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