Serbia’s students demand resignations in police, judiciary as they prepare to take power

BELGRADE, Serbia — Serbia’s student movement on Thursday demanded the resignations of top officials in the police, intelligence agencies and the judiciary as they prepare to take power after a historic election win last weekend against former strongman leader Aleksandar Vučić.

The students at a news conference also urged Serbia’s election authorities to officially declare the final results of Sunday’s ballot without delay after a rerun at some 50 polling stations next Sunday, so that a new Parliament and government can be formed.

The Students’ List movement swept the parliamentary election on Sunday against Vučić’s right-wing Serbian Progressive Party, which has ruled unchallenged for 14 years. The outgoing authorities remain in control as the formal transition of power will take several weeks.

“Changes are starting now,” student Filip Ubovic said at the news conference held at a central Belgrade park that used to be a sealed-off area occupied by Vučić’s loyalists. “Institutions belong to the citizens and the law applies to everyone.”

Vučić’s party has gradually taken control over all state institutions since it came to power in 2012. The SNS party has been accused of rampant corruption and cronyism, links to organized crime and pressure on the judiciary, police…

Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/world