“1990’s breathing down the neck”. Good sentence by Arsenijevic.
Serbia is voting today in consequential elections.
@ATHigginsNYT tackles the dominance of identity politics in the campaigning.
"Wartime ethnic passions might have faded but, said Vladimir Arsenijevic, a Serbian novelist, 'the 1990s are still breathing down all our necks.'”
nytimes.com/2026/10/22/world…
The Bosniak-populated region of Serbia voted more for the student list than all Bosniak parties combined. Quite a feat. While Albanian-populated region saw unification of Albanian parties and they got 2 important MPs. Congrats @shkamberi & co.
Studentska lista u Novom Pazaru osvojila više glasova nego tri najveće bošnjačke stranke zajedno
n1info.rs/vesti/studentska-l…
Quite a title.
Aleksandar Vucic, Serbia’s autocrat, loses to a bunch of students economist.com/europe/2026/10…
One lesson is that autocrats only lose when facing overwhelming numbers at the ballot boxes. The proverbial cup of frustration must be filled to brim. If races are tight, shenanigans play big role to “fix” the margins, from cheating to media control to lawfare against opposition.
Students in Serbia won with impressive organization in campaign + at the ballot boxes, flooding the zone with election observers. But big tent strategy has side effect. One of them having candidates like Saicic, a nationalist who considers Kosovo a “temporary occupied territory”.
Radomir Saičić, kandidat sa studentske liste „Studenti pobeđuju“, izjavio je da preliminarni rezultati pokazuju da ta lista ubedljivo vodi na svim biračkim mjestima i pozvao građane da eventualnu pobjedu proslave mirno i dostojanstveno, bez nasijedanja na provokacije i ulaska u sukobe.
"Hvala vam što ste verovali da Srbija može drugačije. Večeras slavimo pobedu, od sutra gradimo budućnost. Živela Srbija", rekao je Radomir Saičić, kandidat sa studentske liste „Studenti pobeđuju“,
This is good point. Many, many tests and challenges are ahead for the Student List and honey moon will be short. One such key test is arresting and sentencing the millionaire thug Radoicic who publicly admitted killing a Kosovar policeman in a terrorist act but remained free.
Ugasiti konačni Pink i Željka Mitrovića. Informer. Uhapsiti Radojičića i Veselinovića. Luku Bojovića. Maći iz javnog prostora pojave poput Kristijana Golubovića. Uspostaviti beskompromisno nezavisno i hrabro tužilaštvo i sud. Očistiti institucije. Ozdraviti Srbiju. Bataliti se Republike Srpske, Crne Gore i Kosova. Posvetiti se Srbiji. Kada Srbija bude zdrava i snažna, biće zdrav i snažan cio region.
It’s a good question. Many Serbs always lamented the lack of systemic changes and prosecution of elements of Milosevic regime after his fall. Will the Student List victory bring about the type of fundamental dealing with the past, a quarter of a century later.
Demokratski orijentirani građani Srbije, koji su godinama žalili za propuštenom prilikom da se nakon smjene Miloševića provedu radikalne promjene, mogli bi svoj mitski neostvareni 6. oktobar [2000.] dočekati 26. oktobra 26 godina kasnije
Prva analiza: telegram.hr/komentari/nacas-…
I love starting the week with #MondayMarks, Kosovo’s foremost culture agenda…
Ora u tërheq mrapa për me shënu dimnin, por kalendarit të ngjarjeve kulturore iu shtun plot ngjarje nga muzika, filmi, arti, teatri por edhe për Halloween, për të pasunu edhe një #MondayMarks - lista kryesore e ngjarjeve kulturore n'Kosove e ma gjon. suzannepodcast.substack.com/…
Petrit Selimi retweeted
Thank God Serbia borders Europe, which is why we preserved our democracy. If we bordered Russia, we might have suffered the same fate as Belarus or Georgia. That's why I'm also sad tonight, because our Georgian and Belarusian friends continue to suffer the fate we managed to escape.
Despite record high turnout in Serbia, Albanians in Presheva valley united under one list and managed to win two seats, in a parliament that will only have two big parties. Other than minorities, all previous opposition and gov coalition parties are obliterated.
Another woman killed by her so-called husband in Kosovo. This is just utterly devastating. The victim wrote a letter to prosecution and institutions only three days ago that her life is in danger. No one lifted a finger to prevent the grave crime. nacionale.com/sq/articles/tr…
Thousands of youth are filling the city squares in Serbia, in an explosion of joy after the Student List, an amorphous and leaderless group of students and academics won a decisive victory against the Balkan autocrat. Vucic blamed “American deep state” and EU countries for loss.
Following record turnout, only two parties entered Serbian parliament: Student List won 51% of the vote, Vucic’s SNS 40%. All other parties failed to pass 3% threshold. There will also be few Hungarians, one Bosniak and one Albanian MP representing minorities.
Serbian strongman Aleksandar Vucic, just announced he lost elections to the Student List, a leaderless opposition movement borne out of student protests of two years ago. No results yet, but Vucic said “results will be surprising”. And just like that, the autocrat is gone…
As evening approaches and tensions rise, independent observers have noted many irregularities in 1/3 of all voting stations - and violent incidents across Serbia. EU is now reacting.
We are deeply concerned about reported violent incidents across a number of polling stations.
Serbian citizens need to be able to exercise their democratic right to vote in a peaceful and safe environment.
We call on all actors to remain calm, to act responsibly and refrain from violence and provocations and on the competent institutions to ensure safety of all involved in the electoral process.
Petrit Selimi retweeted
By 4 PM, CRTA observers continue to record a large number of irregularities: pressure on voters, polling board members and observers at 29% of polling stations, and photographing ballots at as many as 40%. We appeal to all actors and citizens to help reduce tensions. #izbori2026
crta.rs/en/every-irregularit…
Armored vehicles of Serbian paramilitary gendarmerie are being stationed in multiple points in Belgrade - according to media reports. Enormous turnout is now pointing towards student list victory but Serbia has a history of cheating in elections. Tensions must be rising…
Look at the change last hours 😮 @Polymarket now giving Student List in Serbia 65% of winning the elections.
Serbia capitulated in 1999. Kosovo became free under UN Protectorate until 2008 when it declared independence based on plan by UN Envoy, Finnish President Mario Ahtisaari. Today Kosovo is democratic nation. Serbia is an autocracy. Just basic, verifiable facts.
FWIW: I don’t believe the Serbian people will ever abandon Kosovo, turn against Russia, join the NATO that bombed them, adopt the EU agenda - from smoking to LGBTQ - throw away the advantages they enjoy with China etc.
The spirit of the Partisans remains. Serbians are a unique people and they like it that way. I like it too.