Volunteers clean park after election win

Volunteers gathered at Pioneers Park in Belgrade on the morning of October 27 to remove the remnants of a pro-government camp. The cleanup began hours after Serbia's Student List secured a parliamentary election victory. The park, located opposite the national assembly, had been closed to the public for 18 months.

The site was occupied by a camp known as Ćaciland. White tents housed convicted criminals who often attacked journalists and visitors. Police monitored the area but rarely intervened during conflicts. The Student List's electoral success changed the dynamic on election night.

Tension rose about 30 minutes before polls closed. Masked men in black clothing assembled near the park. Many expected the governing Serbian Progressive party, or SNS, to resist losing power. Instead, party leader Aleksandar Vučić announced a comprehensive defeat to the Student List at SNS headquarters. He stated he did not want unrest on the streets. Riot police stepped back, and barriers around the park were lowered. The masked group departed quickly. Student List supporters then entered the park, damaged some tents, and set others on fire.

Hundreds of volunteers arrived to restore the space. They worked alongside municipal employees to dismantle damaged structures. Crews cleaned and disinfected playground equipment, including swings, slides, and climbing frames. Radomir Dalic collected cigarette butts and litter from the grass. He described the removal of the camp as getting rid of criminals with violent intentions. Dalic said the area was full of garbage but carried the smell of freedom. Tamara Tomic, wearing yellow rubber gloves, stated that the effort demonstrated a public desire for a normal life without violence.

The Student List has no single leader or formal hierarchy. Candidates were selected through student assemblies. The roster includes academics, athletes, economists, and engineers. The movement published an 11 point plan focusing on anti corruption measures. The plan also covers judicial reform, media freedom, affordable housing, and healthcare improvements. It includes a pledge to place a doctor in every village. The group did not name a prime ministerial candidate or a cabinet before the vote.

Kurt Bassuener, co founder of the Democratization Policy Council, expressed hope that the movement has credible people ready for each government portfolio. He warned that fissures in broad coalitions can appear soon after a victory. Ilija Srdanović, the first ranked candidate and a cardiologist at the university in Novi Sad, said the movement aims to avoid a cult of personality. He stressed that his ranking does not make him prime minister. He noted that numerous candidates could fill that role. The protests began after a deadly roof collapse at his university.

Foreign policy positions remain unclear. Vučić warned that a Student List government would sanction Russia and recognize Kosovo's declaration of independence. The movement has not confirmed these stances. Michael Davenport, a former EU and UK ambassador to Serbia, noted that EU flags were absent from student demonstrations. He said there is no consensus on EU accession, Bosnia and Herzegovina, or Kosovo.

Drivers honked their horns as they passed the cleanup crew on Monday. The removal of the tents marks the first visible change since the election. Student List voters expect further changes to follow.