Emotions ran high in Belgrade on Monday after a student-led movement upset the right-wing populist Aleksandar Vucic's party in Serbia's snap election. A celebratory mood gripped the capital, with drivers honking their horns and passers-by holding up three fingers -- the winning list's ballot number and a Serbian greeting. Many wore badges and other symbols of the student movement, while a large group of residents spent the day cleaning up a park between parliament and the presidency after Vucic loyalists, who had camped there for more than a year, fled. FRANCE 24's Mark Owen speaks with researchers and political activist Aleksandar Matković.
The French government met student representatives on Monday (October 26) following weeks of unrest. Students who had been demanding a meeting for weeks hail progress. Nonetheless they are now calling for fresh demonstrations next Saturday (October 31) to press for further measures. Details by FRANCE 24’s French Politics Editor Marc Perelman.
French President Emmanuel Macron said the government would announce “concrete measures" on Monday (October 26) to address school students’ demands after weeks of unrest. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu was scheduled to meet with students later Monday. FRANCE 24's Luke Shrago reports from the ground.
Serbia's student-led protest movement won a historic victory in parliamentary election, ending the long rule of Aleksandar Vucic and sparking mass celebrations. But their yet-to-be named leaders face a long list of issues. FRANCE 24's Angela Diffley gives us her analysis.
Serbia's student-led movement declared victory in parliamentary elections Sunday ending 14 years in power for Aleksandar Vucic's right-wing populist party. Vucic conceded defeat less than two hours after polls closed, triggering raucous scenes in the capital as supporters of the movement celebrated the defeat of a government they blamed for deep-rooted corruption.
French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu is set to meet with high school students on Monday afternoon (October 26) to ease tensions in the country after nearly a month of protests. This follows another meeting in which French president Emmanuel Macron promised a concrete response to demands for better education standards and funding.
Celebrations erupted across several Serbian cities late Sunday (October 25) as people hailed the student-backed movement deposing veteran leader Aleksandar Vucic's party in a snap election.
Serbia's Aleksandar Vucic conceded defeat in an historic election on Sunday (October 25) following a near to 70% turnout at polling stations. The snap election followed nearly two years of student-led demonstrations against perceived corruption and authoritarianism triggered by the deaths of 16 people when a train station canopy collapsed in the city of Novi Sad in 2024. FRANCE 24's Laurent Rouy tells us more.