The students involved in the blockade movement who have entered local assemblies have now stepped onto the terrain of real politics, where decisions must be made on a daily basis and where they must confront an authoritarian government that stops at nothing. The decision by councillors from the student electoral list Students for Aranđelovac – Youth Prevails to cease participating in the work of the local parliament is a form of political struggle that has been seen many times over the past years and decades.
According to Danas‘ interlocutors commenting on the move, developments such as these can be both sobering and motivating for citizens if they lead them to realise that the student movement is not all-powerful and will not succeed in removing President Aleksandar Vučić’s regime on their behalf, just as the party opposition has failed to do.
After walking out of the constitutive session of the Aranđelovac Municipal Assembly just over a month ago, councillors from the student list announced on Monday, following the second regular session, that they would no longer participate in its work. According to their claims, representatives of the ruling authorities and the highest bodies of the Assembly have failed to comply with the law since its formation.
Opposition councillors argue that there was no quorum for the session and therefore no legal basis for adopting decisions. Nevertheless, mandates for four new councillors from the governing majority were confirmed.
Aleksandra Kovačević, a councillor from the student list, stated that there was no longer any possibility of dialogue with the people currently sitting in the Assembly and that criminal accountability must now follow for breaches of the law and abuses of authority. Opposition councillors claim that the ruling authorities do not have a majority and that the Assembly should therefore have been dissolved, a temporary governing body appointed, and new elections called.
Given that the students won only one seat fewer than the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) in the municipality, receiving significant public support to represent citizens in local government, the question arises as to what this withdrawal means for the future struggle and whether student councillors in other municipalities, who also face what they describe as SNS manipulation and abuses, should follow suit.
Their colleague Roland Šipoš, a councillor in the Municipal Assembly of Kula from the Voice of Youth electoral list, told Danas that he views their decision as one legitimate method of political struggle and does not question it.
“Everyone assesses the situation on the ground and chooses the tools they believe can most effectively protect the public interest. I have no doubt that our colleagues in Aranđelovac will continue highlighting problems and unlawful practices, only outside the institutional framework. We have chosen a different path: to remain in the Assembly, fight from within, document every breach of law and procedure, and present it to the public. Both approaches share the same goal: accountable institutions and the rule of law,” he said.
According to Šipoš, it is entirely unsurprising that SNS representatives continue to violate laws and procedures, as this has been witnessed for years.
“For that very reason, we believe it is essential to bring the work of the Assembly back within the bounds of the law and ensure that institutions begin functioning in accordance with established rules. Our objective is active and responsible participation in the Assembly’s work, but with the consistent application of laws, standing orders and democratic procedures. Only in this way can we build institutions and ensure that decisions are made transparently and in the public interest,” he explained.
He added that student councillors in Kula will continue to expose every violation of the law, procedural abuse and attempt to undermine the Assembly’s work because, as representatives entrusted by citizens, they have an obligation to defend legality, the public interest and the dignity of institutions.
Miloš Đajić, a member of the Rebellious University initiative, also expressed understanding for the move made by the Aranđelovac councillors.
“These young people have now entered the arena of real politics, where decisions must be made every day. They also have to confront constant violations of rules of procedure and laws by a government that stops at nothing. In line with last year’s call by students for opposition parties to boycott the Serbian Parliament, I welcome their decision to temporarily leave the assembly benches. I see it as a form of pressure on all actors to bring decision-making back within the legal framework. I am confident that they will explain their decision to citizens and continue working on the ground while monitoring every unlawful decision taken by the authorities,” he told Danas.
He also hopes that, like their colleagues in Kula, they have initiated all legal remedies available to them.
“Regardless of the fact that institutions are effectively captured, it is important to use legal channels to defend the legitimacy of decisions and the will of the citizens of Aranđelovac. We saw in the case of Zaječar how important it is when legal proceedings are initiated and when breaches of the law become so obvious that everyone can see them. The time is coming when, alongside the success of the student movement, those responsible will face legal consequences and lustration, and assemblies will operate in accordance with the law and their rules of procedure,” Đajić said.
Sociologist Ivan Živkov argues that the student movement is politically maturing by confronting challenges that often appear far smaller when viewed from the outside than when experienced firsthand.
“Once again, we have a new political actor that has convinced itself – and many voters – that it understands everything and can do everything better than others. Yet in reality, it too is beginning with the growing pains of political organisation and articulation in a hostile environment,” Živkov said.
He pointed out that over the years, Serbia has repeatedly witnessed the abandonment of dysfunctional assemblies, boycotts of undemocratic elections, participation in elections despite unfair conditions, street protests, and various combinations of institutional and extra-institutional forms of struggle.
“Processes like these can be both sobering and motivating for citizens if they draw the conclusion that the student movement is not all-powerful and will not be able to undertake the difficult task of removing Vučić’s regime on their behalf, just as the party opposition has been unable to do,” Živkov warned. He stressed that it is not enough merely to offer verbal support to those who are fighting or to attend weekend protest gatherings. “If our society is to be liberated and democratised, a much larger number of people will need to become politically engaged and be prepared to make greater personal sacrifices. Otherwise, the student movement may become just another in a long line of disappointed hopes,” Živkov concluded.
(Danas, 24.06.2026)
https://www.danas.rs/vesti/politika/skupstina-arandjelovac-studenti-odbornici-studentska-lista/