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Serbia student list wins parliament with dozens of academics
Science reported that Student List – Students Are Winning won 141 of 250 Serbian assembly seats on Oct. 25, with dozens of academics and more than half of those holding a Ph.D. or M.D.
- New headline Was: “Serbia just elected the world's brainiest parliament”
- Our desk filed its story
- science.org is now reporting this
A student-led opposition list won a majority in Serbia's National Assembly on Oct. 25, sending dozens of academics into parliament, Science reported1.
Science said Student List – Students Are Winning holds 141 of 250 seats and that more than half of the academics among them have a Ph.D. or M.D.1. The magazine described the new assembly as possibly the world's most credentialed legislature1.
The movement grew from nationwide student protests after a canopy collapse at the Novi Sad train station in November 2024 killed 16 people, Science said, with students blaming public-sector corruption1. By May 2025 they had called for an early election and assembled a slate of academics, farmers, lawyers, artists, teachers and a former basketball player rather than running themselves, according to the report1.
Science said the list is tasked with forming a government after 13 years of rule by Aleksandar Vučić as prime minister and later president1. It reported that Student List promised to fight corruption and establish meritocracy, accountability and the rule of law, and that researchers hope for more academic autonomy, more stable science funding and affordable education1.
Chemist Marija Lesjak of the University of Novi Sad, newly elected, told Science a university must be free to think, conduct research and offer criticism without fear of political repercussions1. Science said Vučić's government had been accused of pressuring universities and routing faculty finances through the national treasury1.
The platform Science described includes more predictable funding, an independent Science Fund, an end to political meddling in research evaluations, and support for researchers abroad who want to return1. Science said Vučić resigned in September, cannot run again as president after two terms, and had hoped to become prime minister; a presidential election is likely by year's end1.