‘It’s the smell of freedom’: Belgrade cleans up after Student List triumph

The Student List movement cleaned up a pro-government camp in Belgrade the morning after the movement’s victory in Serbia’s parliamentary elections.

Hundreds of volunteers joined municipal workers to remove the remains of the Ćaciland camp opposite the national assembly building, restoring Pioneers Park to its previous state.

The camp, known as Ćaciland, had been a no-go zone for 18 months, housing convicted criminals who attacked journalists and anyone who came too close.

On election night, large numbers of masked, black-clad men gathered in Pioneers Park, but the police stood aside and the barriers were removed as the Student List supporters celebrated.

The Student List supporters joyfully ransacked the camp, setting fire to some of the tents, but the movement’s ethos of self-regulation led to a swift and thorough clean-up.

Volunteers combed the grass for cigarette butts and other rubbish, and meticulously cleaned and disinfected the playground equipment, a task they performed with evident pride.

The Student List’s victory was a surprise, as Aleksandar Vučić had warned that his party would not hand over power without a struggle.

Shortly after the polls closed, Vučić conceded defeat to the Student List, telling supporters at SNS headquarters that he did not want unrest on the streets.

The Student List is a unique political force, operating without a hierarchy or a leader, with its candidates chosen by a series of student assemblies.

The movement’s 11-point plan focuses on anti-corruption measures, judicial reform, media freedom, affordable housing, and improved access to healthcare.

Despite its domestic priorities, the Student List’s foreign and regional policy remains opaque, with no clear consensus on accession to the European Union or the position on Kosovo.

Ilija Srdanović, the candidate ranked first on the Student List, has played down the potential for strife, insisting that the movement is fully democratic and that the 250 candidates are 'equal subjects in this struggle'.

Michael Davenport, a former EU and UK ambassador to Serbia, noted that the movement has not shown a clear preference for EU flags in its demonstrations.

Many people are happy to leave these concerns for another day, as the cacophony of car horns continued to celebrate the fall of the old regime.

One visible symbol of the old regime has been swept away, and the Student List voters are hoping more will follow.