Financial Markets | Business | Politics | Commodities 20+ years in global financial markets. Breaking down markets, geopolitics, business and the forces shape

📍Belgrade, London, Moscow
Joined April 2025
😂 @MarioBojic blocked me? So much for the Student List’s grand commitment to the “freedom of the press” and open debate. Apparently, freedom of expression is sacred right up until someone expresses an opinion you can’t handle. Imagine wanting to lead a country but being unable to handle a comment on social media. If you can’t survive a disagreement on X, how exactly do you plan to survive parliamentary scrutiny, hostile interviews, or the responsibility of governing Serbia? You don’t defend democracy by blocking criticism. You demonstrate that your commitment to free speech comes with conditions. The Student List wants the keys to Serbia, but its representatives can’t even handle the comments section. Imagine handing them the country. 🇷🇸
10
1
31
1,013
🇷🇸 THE STUDENT LIST FAN CLUB WANTS CHANGE. FINE. BUT CHANGE TO WHAT, EXACTLY? I’ve spent 2 yrs and the past 48 hours questioning the Student List, and the reaction from some of its supporters has been absolutely fascinating. Apparently, asking questions about the small but Highly Education elite group of people (150 PHD holders and awarding winning Movie Stars, Play writes, Ex Sports Stars) who want to govern Serbia is somehow controversial. Ask about their economic programme, their political priorities, their leadership, or their plans for ordinary working-class Serbs, and suddenly you’re accused of defending the status quo. So let me make this very painfully simple. I do not owe the Student List my blind trust. And neither does Serbia. You keep telling me the status quo wasn’t working. Okay. Then tell me precisely what wasn’t working for you. Was it employment? Wages? Living standards? Public services? The cost of living? And once you’ve identified the problem, explain how the Student List intends to fix it. Because shouting “change” is easy. Campaigning is easy. Promising a better future is easy. Governing a country like Serbia is where the slogans meet reality. Since everyone seems determined to dismiss Serbia’s economic record since 2012 under Vucic, let’s look at some actual numbers. Unemployment fell from around 26% in 2012 to 8.6% in 2024, according to the figures previously cited from the IMF. Average net monthly wages rose from 41,377 RSD in 2012 to 98,143 RSD in 2024 an increase of 137% in nominal terms. Yes, inflation matters. Yes, purchasing power matters. Nobody serious disputes that. But pretending there has been no economic change whatsoever is not an argument; it is selective memory. Serbia attracted foreign investment, expanded employment, and recorded economic growth. There are still serious problems, and accountability must never be optional. But a fair assessment recognises both progress and shortcomings. Now comes the part the Student List cheerleaders seem reluctant to discuss. What is their alternative economic model? What are their concrete plans for wages, jobs, investment, living costs, and the long-term prosperity of Serbia? And how will a movement featuring highly educated, internationally connected professionals ensure that its policies benefit ordinary Serbian workers rather than primarily serving the interests of another well-connected elite? A university degree does not make someone a champion of the working class. International connections do not automatically make someone a champion of national sovereignty. And being against Vučić does not magically qualify someone to govern Serbia. If the Student List has brilliant answers, let its leaders & supporters present them. I’ll happily examine the proposals. But I will not substitute celebrity endorsements, emotional speeches, or promises of a brighter future for a serious economic programme. And before somebody starts screaming that I’m accusing the Student List of wrongdoing, read carefully: questioning a movement is not accusing it of a crime. It is holding it to the same standard we should apply to anyone seeking power. That is what accountability means. You cannot spend years demanding that Vučić answer difficult questions and then suddenly declare those same questions unacceptable when they concern your preferred political movement. That is not consistency. That is a double standard. And to those who keep telling me to stop questioning the Student List, here is my professional advice: if your political movement cannot withstand scrutiny from ordinary citizens before taking power, perhaps its supporters should spend less time policing criticism and more time explaining what it actually intends to do. Serbia is not a university project. Its working-class families are not laboratory subjects. And the future of an entire country should never rest on the assumption that whoever promises change must automatically be better. I support asking difficult questions. I support examining evidence. I support holding political leaders accountable. And yes, I support Vučić, and I oppose the Student List. I have no reason to disguise my position. But my political position does not excuse me or anyone from answering legitimate questions — and neither should yours. So let’s end the slogans and have an adult conversation. What exactly is not working for you? What will the Student List do differently? And where is the evidence that its proposed solutions will deliver a better standard of living for ordinary Serbs? No deflection. No personal attacks. No accusations of being an apologist simply because you dislike the questions. POLICIES. NUMBERS. ANSWERS. If the Student List wants the keys to Serbia, it can start by explaining what it intends to do with them. 🇷🇸 Because replacing a government is one thing. Proving you can govern better is another entirely.
2
6
21
625
🇮🇱 NETANYAHU WRITTEN OFF AGAIN? DON'T COUNT HIM OUT JUST YET. For months, Netanyahu has faced predictions of political defeat. Yet the first exit polls have delivered a result that makes the next phase far more complicated than many expected. Likud is projected to finish as Israel’s largest party, with 24–25 seats, ahead of Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party at 21–23. But Eisenkot’s broader bloc leads Netanyahu’s bloc by roughly 52–53 seats to 50. Neither has the 61 seats needed for a majority. So where does Netanyahu go from here? 🔹 Coalition mathematics: Netanyahu needs to find a path to 61 seats, potentially through negotiations with parties whose support cannot be taken for granted. 🔹 Bennett's position: With a projected 12–14 seats, Naftali Bennett will become pivotal to the negotiations. 🔹 The Arab parties: Their projected 17–18 seats could prove decisive, but securing their support is not straightforward, given the objections of some potential coalition partners. 🔹 The opposition's dilemma: Being ahead in the projected bloc count is not the same as being able to form a government. Eisenkot faces his own difficult negotiations, including whether an arrangement involving Arab parties is politically viable. Netanyahu has spent decades navigating Israeli coalition politics. Whether that experience will produce another unexpected outcome remains to be seen. The most important point is this: the exit polls have not settled who will govern Israel. They have opened another political battle. Before declaring Netanyahu finished or Eisenkot victorious, watch the official results, the coalition negotiations, and the decisions of the smaller parties. In Israeli politics, the seat count tells only part of the story. The real test is who can assemble a government. 🇮🇱 Never confuse an election-night headline with the final outcome. #Israel #Netanyahu #IsraeliElections
2
213
Let me tell you what I believe many ordinary students and working-class Serbians are failing to consider: the Student List’s highly educated elites will have very different interests from the very people who voted for them. You voted for them believing that their PhDs, professional qualifications, and European connections would somehow translate into better wages, affordable housing, higher living standards, and a brighter future for ordinary Serbian families. But having an impressive CV is not the same thing as understanding the economic reality facing an ordinary Serbian household. Look closely at who stands to benefit most from deeper EU integration. Highly educated professionals, internationally connected academics, NGO circles, consultants, and people already positioned to access European institutions, funding, professional networks, and career opportunities may be particularly well placed to benefit. That doesn't automatically mean ordinary workers will share those gains. What about the factory worker whose wages barely cover the bills? The young couple who cannot afford an apartment? The student who graduates only to discover that a degree doesn't guarantee a decent job? The pensioner watching the cost of living rise? Who is guaranteeing that their lives will improve? EU integration will create opportunities, but those opportunities are not distributed equally or automatically. Economic restructuring will also expose certain workers and industries to greater competition, while skilled professionals will have more options to move abroad for better-paid employment. When the benefits and costs are unevenly distributed, who will stand up for those left behind? Believe me it will not be the Student List Elites Leaders. And this is where the ordinary students who voted for the Student List need to be warned.  You all believe you're joining forces with people who share your economic struggles, but political cooperation does not mean your interests are identical. A highly successful professional and a struggling student can both oppose the same government while having completely different ideas about what Serbia's future should look like. Don't assume that because these elites oppose Vučić, they will automatically defend your interests once they gain influence. Don't assume that European credentials guarantee higher Serbian wages, cheaper housing, or better opportunities for working-class families. Ask them specific questions. What will they do about wages? What is their housing policy? How will they protect workers during economic restructuring? What will they do to prevent young, educated Serbians from feeling that emigration is their only path to a decent life? And how will they ensure that the benefits of economic development reach ordinary citizens rather than remaining concentrated among those who are already well positioned? Because the ultimate betrayal would be this: ordinary Serbian students and working people provide the votes, the enthusiasm, and the political momentum, only to discover that the people they elevated have priorities very different from their own. Don’t vote on the assumption that you’re all in this together. Demand proof that you actually are. A PhD, professional credentials, and academic prestige are no guarantee of solidarity with ordinary working people. European integration is no guarantee of prosperity, and removing Vučić is not an economic plan. Just look back at October 5, 2000, and the fall of Milošević. Many students and ordinary citizens believed they were ushering in a brighter future. What followed was a turbulent period of economic and political upheaval between 2000 and 2012, including the assassination of Prime Minister Zoran Đinđić in 2003. History doesn’t repeat itself in precisely the same way, but it certainly offers lessons worth remembering. Serbia cannot afford to confuse the removal of one leader with a guarantee of a better future. Before putting your faith in the Student List and their Ellite Leaders, ask yourselves one simple question: what, specifically, will they deliver for ordinary Serbians once the slogans fade and the realities of governing begin? Don’t just take their word for it. Demand answers. The real test of the Student List will not be how many highly educated people stand behind it. It will be whether ordinary Serbians are materially better off because of the policies it pursues.
2
2
9
289
🇷🇸 A REALITY CHECK FOR EVERY ORDINARY SERBIAN STUDENT AND WORKER FLOODING MY DMs AND TEXT MESSAGES TELLING ME THE STUDENT LIST ELITES ARE GOING TO MAKE YOUR LIFE BETTER. BOOKMARK THIS. I'm being bombarded with DMs, texts and messages from Serbians insisting that the Student List is going to deliver a better future. So let me address the "Elephant in the room" directly, because too many of you are all overlooking one very important question. WHY DO YOU ASSUME THAT THE INTERESTS OF THE HIGHLY EDUCATED ELITE ARE THE SAME AS YOURS? The Student List includes around 150 PhDs and other highly educated professionals. Their qualifications will open doors to international careers, research opportunities and professional networks across Europe, once they integrate into EU Union, and yes Student List number 1 desire is full integration cause the Students Leaders are the ones who get full access to all be EU benefits! Meanwhile, YOU, regular Serbians, they majority who voted in such elite's, are going to be left hoping for better wages, affordable housing, cheaper groceries, secure employment and a future where you can actually afford to live in your own country. Do you see the difference? YOU ARE EXPECTING THEM TO LIFT YOU UP, WHILE THEY MAY BE THE VERY PEOPLE BEST POSITIONED TO LEAVE YOU BEHIND. We've heard grand promises of equality, prosperity and a better future before. The communist experience taught us that political movements can promise ordinary people everything while the reality turns out very differently. And now you're telling me to wait six months? Fine. Let's wait six months. But don't confuse a highly educated political elite promising you a better life with proof that your interests align with theirs. A PhD or highly qualified professional doesn't automatically mean someone understands the struggles of a worker living paycheck to paycheck. YOU VOTED FOR A BETTER LIFE. BUT DID YOU EVER STOP TO ASK WHETHER THEIR VISION OF A BETTER LIFE IS THE SAME AS YOURS? For the Student List's professional elite, European integration will mean greater career opportunities, international mobility and access to a much larger labour market. For you, it means waiting to see whether your wages rise, whether you can afford a home and whether your family can enjoy a better standard of living. And when those Student List elites gain opportunities while ordinary Serbian workers are still struggling, what exactly will you have achieved? You wanted to build a better life in Serbia. Their qualifications will give them the option to build theirs somewhere else. THAT IS THE REALITY CHECK. So yes, let's talk in six months. I'll gladly revisit every one of these questions. But when the political slogans meet reality, remember this post and ask yourself: DID YOU ACTUALLY VOTE FOR A BETTER FUTURE FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY — OR DID YOU JUST HELP OPEN THE DOOR FOR A NEW POLITICAL ELITE WHOSE OPPORTUNITIES AND PRIORITIES MAY BE VERY DIFFERENT FROM YOUR OWN? BOOKMARK THIS. WE'LL TALK IN SIX MONTHS. slobodnaevropa.org/a/ilija-s…
25
31
2
110
4,346
FUNNY HOW THE EU BECOMES THE PROMISED LAND THE MOMENT THE STUDENT LIST ARRIVES. 🇷🇸🇪🇺 For 14 years, Vučić’s opposition accused him of being pro-EU, adopting European laws and steering Serbia towards Brussels. Yet Serbia is STILL not a member of the European Union. Now, less than 48 hours after the Student List’s victory, its representatives are already promoting that same European dream. But let's talk about the people selling it. THE STUDENT LIST ELITES VS. THE ORDINARY SERBIAN WHO VOTED FOR THEM. The Student List includes around 150 PhDs and highly educated professionals. These are people whose qualifications will open doors to European universities, research institutions, specialist careers and professional opportunities across the EU. For these small highly educated elites, European integration will mean greater professional mobility, access to a much larger labour market and opportunities to advance their careers abroad. But what about the ordinary Serbian worker? The factory worker. The construction worker. The shop assistant. The delivery driver. The young student struggling to afford rent or living in multi generational home. The family living paycheck to paycheck. They will not get better wages because Serbia adopts European laws thorough EU Membership. They won't get affordable housing, cheaper groceries or better healthcare because politicians promise closer ties with Brussels. And while the Student List's professional elite will be well positioned to take advantage of opportunities across Europe, ordinary workers who voted for the Student List on the promise of better life will be left struggling to make ends meet in Serbia. Look at Croatia. EU membership has brought opportunities, but ordinary Croatians still face serious housing affordability pressures and high costs in popular coastal areas. Membership did not magically make life affordable for everyone. The Student List elites see Europe as a gateway to greater careers, mobility and opportunity. But the ordinary Serbian who voted for them wants to know something much simpler: WILL I EARN MORE, WILL I AFFORD A HOME, AND WILL MY FAMILY LIVE BETTER? Because if the biggest winners from European integration are the politicians, academics and professionals who will capitalise on opportunities abroad, while ordinary Serbian workers are left behind at home, then the people who voted for change deserve to ask: DID WE VOTE FOR A BETTER LIFE FOR ORDINARY SERBIANS, OR DID WE JUST HELP OPEN MORE DOORS FOR THE ELITES? slobodnaevropa.org/a/ilija-s…
1
7
1
29
1,178
🇷🇸 SERBIA IS A REPUBLIC. WHY ARE THE STUDENT LIST AND ITS SUPPORTERS CELEBRATING ROYALTY? This post comes from Here's @MarioBojic. one of the most vocal supporters and characters of the Student List. Since he has blocked me, I’ll put the question here for everyone else to consider. Prince Filip Karađorđević is the grandson of King Peter II, the last king of Yugoslavia, whose monarchy was abolished in 1945. Yet here we have a prominent Student List supporter celebrating the heir to a dynasty whose return would mean restoring hereditary privilege to Serbia. And the family’s wartime history cannot simply be brushed aside. In March 1941, Prince Regent Pavle Karađorđević signed Yugoslavia’s accession to the Tripartite Pact alongside Nazi Germany and the other Axis powers. Days later, a coup overthrew the government, and Germany invaded Yugoslavia the following month. The question is why those claiming to represent Serbia’s future are celebrating a royal dynasty whose family history direct ties to Hitler’s Nazi Germany. So, @MarioBojic , here is the question Is this the future the Student List represents—a republic in name, but a return to hereditary privilege in spirit? Serbia has its own history, identity and sovereignty. It does not need a crown to prove its national pride. 🇷🇸 NO CROWN. NO HEREDITARY RULE. SERBIA BELONGS TO ITS PEOPLE.
5
2
14
373
Just look at the Student List celebrating Prince Filip Karađorđević and his wife as “our beloved Prince and Princess.” This is a dynasty whose family history includes Prince Regent Pavle signing Yugoslavia’s 1941 pact with Hitler’s Nazi Germany. Is this really the future the Student List represents—a republic in name, but a return to hereditary privilege in spirit? 🇷🇸
85
🚨 SERIOUS QUESTIONS FOR SERBIA’S STUDENT LIST. 🇷🇸 Did one of World's most wanted International organized-crime figures, Radoje Zvicer (leader of Kavač clan in Montenegro) really celebrate the Student List’s victory in Serbia from a nightclub in Dubai? A video circulating across social media allegedly shows Radoje Zvicer displaying an offensive message directed at Aleksandar Vučić. But the question remains unavoidable: what exactly is being celebrated, why and what's the connection between Radoje Zvicer & Student List. The Student List and its supporters have accused Vučić’s government of running a “mafia state,” portraying Vučić as the man at the top. So if the claims about this video are accurate, why is a figure associated with highest of International organized crime celebrating the blockaders’ victory whose slogan was to fight Mafia State and Corruption? Who is celebrating, why are they celebrating, and what exactly are they celebrating? The Student List cannot spend 2 years accusing Vucic of connection to organized crime with no evidence and then expect people not to ask questions when controversial footage like this emerges. If the Student List claims to represent a new political culture, transparency must apply to everyone — including those celebrating its victory. 🇷🇸 occrp.org/en/people/radoje-z… xitter.cf/NikolinaKaplar/status/…
RADOJE ZVICER U DUBAIJU SLAVIO POBEDU BLOKADERA U SRBIJI Na drustvenim mrezama pojavio se video-snimak iz kluba u Dubaiju, na kojem je, prema navodima koji prate snimak, Radoje Zvicer istakao uvredljivu poruku upucenu Aleksandru Vucicu. Ako je autentican, ovaj snimak otvara ozbiljna pitanja: da li se pobeda studenata u blokadi slavi uz poruke coveka koji se povezuje sa organizovanim kriminalom i za kojim se traga? Gradjani zasluzuju odgovore, a ne zastradivanje i uvrede. Ovakve tvrdnje moraju se proveriti, a svaka eventualna pretnja mora biti ozbiljno shvacena.
3
1
1
7
329
🇷🇸 STUDENT LIST, YOU WON THE ELECTION. NOW TELL SERBIA WHAT YOU INTEND TO DO WITH THE COUNTRY. Student List Candidate #1 Ilija Srdanović says the victory must be “confirmed.” Fine. But what exactly does he mean? Serbia has a legal process, not an open-ended political transition. HERE IS THE CONSTITUTIONAL SEQUENCE: 1️⃣ FINAL RESULTS: The Republic Electoral Commission must establish and proclaim the final election results, taking account of the applicable legal procedures and any outstanding complaints. 2️⃣ CONSTITUTE PARLIAMENT: Under Article 101 of Serbia’s Constitution, the first sitting must be held no later than 30 days after the final results are proclaimed. MPs’ mandates must be verified, and at least two-thirds of the 250 mandates — 167 — must be confirmed for the National Assembly to be constituted. 3️⃣ FORM THE GOVERNMENT: The President of Serbia consults representatives of the elected lists and proposes a candidate for prime minister. That candidate presents the government programme and proposed cabinet to parliament. 4️⃣ WIN THE PARLIAMENTARY VOTE: The proposed government needs at least 126 votes in the 250-seat National Assembly. The prime minister and ministers then take their oath of office. 5️⃣ RESPECT THE 90-DAY DEADLINE: The new government must be elected within 90 days of the Assembly’s constitution. If it is not, the Constitution requires the Assembly to be dissolved and new parliamentary elections called. These are constitutional procedures — not optional formalities and not grounds for inventing a crisis where none has been established. So, Srdanović, be specific: Have the final results been proclaimed? What formal steps remain? When will parliament convene, and when will your proposed government present its programme for a vote? If the transition is proceeding lawfully, explain the timetable. If you allege obstruction, identify the specific act and provide evidence. And once you take responsibility for governing, answer the bigger questions: Kosovo, Russia, the EU, Croatia, energy security, industrial jobs and workers’ wages. WINNING AN ELECTION IS A MANDATE TO GOVERN — NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR A GOVERNING PROGRAMME. Follow the Constitution. Respect the law. Give the Serbian people clear answers. 🇷🇸 xitter.cf/blokada_info/status/21…
Ilija Srdanović pozvao sve građane da budu dostojanstveni u pobedi i da se suzdrže od nasilja. „Pobeda mora biti potvrđena”, navodi prvi na studentskoj listi.
1
6
235
🇷🇸🇭🇷 15 YEARS. NOT A PEEP. THEN SUDDENLY, WITHIN 24 HOURS… Where were these Croatian demands for apologies, war reparations and lectures about “Greater Serbia” during the previous 15 years of Vučić’s rule? Why are we hearing this NOW? What changed in the last 24 hours? Is it a coincidence that these demands are surfacing just as Serbia’s political future is being contested? Croatia has every right to raise questions about missing persons and its interpretation of the 1990s. But demanding that Serbia accept collective guilt, pay reparations and abandon what Croatian politicians label “old myths” is an entirely different matter. SERBIA MUST NOT BE PRESSURED INTO ACCEPTING POLITICAL DEMANDS WITHOUT EVIDENCE, DUE PROCESS AND A FULL ACCOUNTING OF HISTORY. So, Mr Bartulica, explain the timing. Why now, after 15 years? And why should Serbs believe this is simply about historical justice rather than an attempt to shape Serbia’s political future? 🇷🇸 SERBIA DESERVES ANSWERS. NOT LECTURES. NOT DOUBLE STANDARDS. AND CERTAINLY NOT POLITICAL PRESSURE DISGUISED AS HISTORICAL JUSTICE. xitter.cf/StjepoBartulica/status…
Srbija mora priznati svoju odgovornost za agresiju na Hrvatsku devedesetih godina i mora isplatiti ratnu odštetu. Hrvatska i dalje traži informacije o svojim nestalima. Srbijansko društvo i dalje je zarobljeno u starim mitovima o velikoj Srbiji - od toga, nažalost, nisu odustali! Moramo biti svjesni da će teško doći do promjena.
3
10
294
🚨🇷🇸 SERBIA, READ THIS AND TELL ME WE’RE NOT WATCHING POLITICAL FANTASY IN REAL TIME. The Student List’s answer to Serbia’s defence industry? “We’ll manufacture tin flowers instead of cannons if that’s what it takes to stop further bloodshed.” Seriously? Is this a national economic strategy or a line from a kindergarten poetry book? 🤡 Behind every defence factory are Serbian workers, families, wages, suppliers, engineering expertise and communities that depend on industrial production. WHO PAYS THEIR BILLS WHEN THE CONTRACTS DISAPPEAR? WHO PROTECTS THEIR JOBS? WHAT REPLACES THE LOST REVENUE? “Tin flowers” is a slogan. It is not an employment policy, an industrial strategy or a plan for Serbia’s economic future. Nobody wants bloodshed. But pretending that complex international conflicts can be solved by shutting down export markets and replacing cannons with flowers is not serious policymaking. If the Student List wants to govern Serbia, it owes the Serbian people more than pretty words and moral grandstanding. 🇷🇸 SERBIA NEEDS REALISTIC POLICIES, NOT POETRY DISGUISED AS GOVERNMENT. WORKERS CANNOT PAY THEIR MORTGAGES WITH FLOWERS. And remember: if you promise to change an entire industry, you had better explain what happens to the people whose livelihoods depend on it. SLOGANS ARE FREE. THE CONSEQUENCES ARE NOT. xitter.cf/billyjane/status/21148…
proizvodićemo limeno cveće umesto topova ako treba samo da sprečimo dalje krvoproliće, jesi bio nekad u Namenskoj industriji da vidiš kako žive ti ljudi??? odjebi zli čoveče
6
4
1
27
1,770
To the Student Lists, voters, supporters, funders THIS is what you lunatics were cheering for. 🇷🇸 You wanted political upheaval without thinking through the consequences. Now the reality is unfolding, suddenly everyone wants to look the other way. You don't get to campaign for chaos, celebrate the consequences, and then pretend you had nothing to do with it. YOU WANTED CHANGE. OWN IT. xitter.cf/gdjica_visnja/status/2…
После Информера, отишли су на Пинк. У међувремену, зауставили су и опколили камион РТС-а са свом опремом. Тренутно демолирају Факултет српских студија. Шта је следеће? Црква, манастир? Србијо, шта си ово урадила?
1
3
92
To all the Sudent List, their supporters, funded and voters, THIS is what you lunatics were cheering for. 🇷🇸 You wanted political upheaval without thinking through the consequences. Now the reality is unfolding, suddenly everyone wants to look the other way. You don't get to campaign for chaos, celebrate the consequences, and then pretend you had nothing to do with it. YOU WANTED CHANGE. OWN IT. xitter.cf/Bogdan27340/status/211…
unavailable
34
🇷🇸 SERBIA’S STUDENT UPRISINGS: WHAT DOES HISTORY REALLY TEACH US? Before we celebrate another student movement as the answer to all of Serbia’s problems, we should look honestly at what happened after previous generations took to the streets. History is not just about how an uprising begins. It is about what happens after the crowds go home. 1968 — The system survived. Belgrade students protested inequality, unemployment and privilege. Tito made concessions, and the demonstrations ended. But the one-party political system remained intact. The students did not achieve the fundamental political transformation they had hoped for. 1992 — The demands went unmet. More than 10,000 students demanded Slobodan Milošević’s resignation, new elections, the dissolution of parliament and a coalition government. The protests ended without achieving their central demands. Serbia remained trapped in political repression, economic hardship, sanctions and conflict. 1996–97 — A victory, but a limited one. Students joined mass protests after Milošević’s government refused to recognise opposition victories in local elections. After months of demonstrations, the government conceded and recognised the results. That was a real achievement. But it did not remove Milošević from power, end authoritarian rule or prevent the country from entering another period of conflict and instability. 2000 — Milošević fell, but the democratic struggle continued. The student movement Otpor helped mobilise resistance that contributed to Milošević’s removal. This was a historic political change. Yet the years that followed showed how difficult it was to build stable institutions, overcome political divisions and establish lasting public trust. Removing a leader and transforming a political system are two very different things. 2017 — Another wave, another unfinished agenda. Students protested Vučić’s presidential election victory and demanded changes to public broadcasting, media regulation and electoral procedures. According to Radio Free Europe’s historical account, none of their demands was fulfilled. 2024–2026 — Now comes the real test. Following the Novi Sad railway station tragedy, students demanded transparency, accountability and the rule of law. Their sustained mobilisation eventually led to a historic electoral breakthrough against Vučić’s political camp. But winning an election is the beginning of governing, not proof that corruption has been eliminated, institutions are independent or democratic standards will endure. And this is the question Serbia must confront: What makes this generation different from those who came before it? Who will guarantee that the promises made during the protests become real reforms? How will the new political leadership prevent patronage, corruption and the concentration of power from returning under a different name? What happens if the movement fractures or its leaders disappoint the people who trusted them? These are not arguments against students demanding justice. They are questions that any movement seeking to govern a country must be prepared to answer. Serbia has a long history of courageous young people challenging those in power. Their courage deserves recognition. But history also warns that public enthusiasm, mass demonstrations and electoral victories cannot substitute for strong institutions, transparent government and accountability. Serbia does not need to put its faith blindly in another generation of politicians — even if they arrive under a student banner. It needs a system in which nobody is above the law. The ultimate measure of success will not be who defeats Vučić. It will be whether Serbia finally breaks the cycle in which hope rises, power changes hands, and the promises of reform remain unfinished. 🇷🇸 The question is not whether the students can win. They have demonstrated that they can. The question is whether they can deliver lasting change where previous generations struggled.
89
The silence for two years was deafening. Now suddenly, Albanians, Croats, Bosnian political circles, Kurti, Von der Leyen and Western left-wing parties have discovered their love for Serbian democracy. 😂 Where was all this enthusiasm when the protests were happening? Funny how the diplomatic smiles appear the moment they think there’s a new government they can influence. The objective, from a Serbian nationalist perspective, is obvious: get close to Belgrade, flatter the new political players, and push Serbia towards policies that serve Brussels’ agenda rather than Serbia’s national interests. These are the same political establishments that made grand promises about Russia, climate policy and COVID, only to leave plenty of people questioning their judgment, priorities and results. Yet somehow, they still present themselves as the unquestionable guardians of truth and progress. Two years of silence, followed by 15 hours of sudden affection. 😂 Serbia should remember one thing: foreign applause is not proof of domestic legitimacy, and Western approval is not a substitute for Serbian sovereignty. 🇷🇸 xitter.cf/bundeskanzler/status/2…
Die Parlamentswahlen in Serbien sind klar entschieden. Wir gratulieren der Studentenliste! Mit ihrer Forderung nach Rechtsstaatlichkeit, Korruptionsbekämpfung und Grundfreiheiten hat sie die Menschen erreicht. Den europäischen Weg Serbiens werden wir engagiert unterstützen.
2
1
2
9
947
🇷🇸 MAKE SERBIA GREAT AGAIN! BUT WHO EXACTLY IS GOING TO LEAD IT? Let’s put names to the question. Ilija Srdanović, a cardiologist and university professor? Željko Hubač, a playwright? Tihomir Stanić, an actor? Dejan Bodiroga, a former basketball star? Or Dejan Šoškić, an economist and former governor of Serbia’s central bank? An impressive range of professions—but where is the clearly identified prime ministerial candidate? Where is the governing team with a detailed plan for Serbia’s economy, energy security, foreign policy, Kosovo and national interests? You can organise protests, win public support and campaign against a government. But governing a country requires more than a list of names and a promise of change. And while these questions remain, Brussels is already welcoming the prospect of political change in Serbia. Ursula von der Leyen, Marta Kos and Alex Soros are names Serbs should be paying attention to—not because their approval proves anything, but because the EU has its own strategic interests. So, here is the question: WHO is actually going to lead this project, who will make the decisions, and who will take responsibility when the promises collide with reality? Serbia is not a university experiment. It is a sovereign country, and its citizens deserve to know who will govern them before being asked to trust an entire political project. 🇷🇸 Name the leader. Show the team. Publish the plan. Serbia deserves answers. xitter.cf/business/status/211466…
1
5
212
🇷🇸 SERBIA’S ELECTIONS: WHY IS BRUSSELS SO EAGER TO CELEBRATE? The ink is barely dry, and Brussels is already rolling out the red carpet for the Student List. Ursula von der Leyen, António Costa and Marta Kos are all signalling that a new chapter in Serbia’s EU integration can begin. So let’s ask the question nobody should be afraid to ask: Why is Serbia suddenly so important to Brussels? What does the EU expect in return for its support? Is this simply about democracy and anti-corruption, or does Brussels see an opportunity to reshape Serbia’s foreign policy, its relationship with Russia, its national priorities and ultimately its place in Europe? Serbia sits at a geopolitical crossroads. Its future matters far beyond its borders. Whoever governs in Belgrade will influence the balance of power in the Balkans and Serbia’s relationship with the EU, Russia and the wider world. The Student List has won an election. It has NOT been given a blank cheque to surrender Serbia’s sovereignty or outsource the country’s future to unelected officials in Brussels. EU membership is a choice for Serbia—not an obligation dictated by foreign politicians. Democracy must mean that the Serbian people decide their own future, even when Brussels disagrees. 🇷🇸 Serbia is not a chessboard. Serbia is a sovereign nation. The real test begins now: WHO will the new leadership answer to—the Serbian people who elected it, or the European power brokers already celebrating its victory? xitter.cf/democrats_eu/status/21…
We said it after Orbán’s defeat: Vučić would be next. He was so furious he attacked the European Democrats on national television. Tonight, #Serbia’s students proved us right. Aleksandar, get the cards ready. You finally have plenty of free time to play with your old friend Viktor. The Students’ List has won. The students and citizens who stood up to intimidation have shown the power of democracy: the people win, democracy wins. STUDENTSKA LISTA JE POBEDILA!
2
100
This is exactly how communist movements have operated throughout history: first, they claim the moral high ground in the name of the people, justice and fighting corruption. Then political opponents become enemies, dissent becomes unacceptable, and intimidation replaces tolerance. Serbia has seen this chapter of history before. Changing the slogans doesn't change the ideology, and winning an election does not give anyone the right to silence their opponents. 🇷🇸 xitter.cf/javiernegre10/status/2…
A team from @InformerNovine was driving me to my hotel when supporters of the Student List in another car recognized journalist @vesnaveizovic and got out at a red light to attack her and spit on her. It was terrible. What should be a night of celebration for Student List supporters is becoming, for some, a night of revenge and hatred. Sadly, I believe this is what awaits supporters of the governing party: they will be targeted, especially journalists. And they haven’t even taken office yet. I hope I’m wrong. My support to her. What Serbia needs is peace not war according to its recent history. The former president recognize that he lost and congratulated the Student List. They should celebrate but no attack the losers.
1
2
121
The Student List will prove to be the EU’s Trojan horse in Serbia. 🇷🇸🇪🇺 For years, Vučić and his government were constantly described as pro-European and committed to EU integration. Yet where were the EU leaders publicly celebrating Vučić as their preferred partner? Where was this enthusiasm? Now, before a new government has even been formed, Brussels is already congratulating the Student List and offering its support. Serbians should ask one simple question: Is this really about fighting corruption and democracy, or about who gets to shape Serbia’s political future? 🇷🇸 xitter.cf/BBCWorld/status/211449…
Celebrations have erupted in the streets of Serbia's capital Belgrade, after long-standing leader Aleksandar Vučić admitted defeat to a student-led protest movement in snap parliamentary elections. Read more: bbc.in/4BwV5ga
2
5
186