The opposition movement Studentska lista secured a decisive victory in Serbia’s parliamentary elections on 25 October, winning 140 out of the 250 seats in the National Assembly. A report published by the respected scientific journal *Science* highlighted that this result could give Serbia the most intellectually qualified parliament in the world, noting that more than half of the newly elected representatives hold a doctorate in science or a medical degree.

The *Science* article lists a range of academic backgrounds among the new MPs: an astrophysicist studying galaxy evolution, an electrical engineer who helped design robots, an organic chemist who contributed to COVID‑19 drug development, researchers in education, sociology and political science, as well as economists, physicians and medical researchers. The journal describes the group as a “parliament with the highest number of intellectuals globally.”

Studentska lista’s triumph marks a dramatic shift from previous election cycles. The movement, led by students, captured 56 % of the seats, while the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) retained a minority. The SNS list, headed by President Aleksandar Vučić, includes long‑time political figures such as Prime Minister Ana Brnabić, Milenko Jovanov, Nikola Selaković (under investigation for a General Staff scandal), and Marina Raguš, as well as public personalities like professor Stojan Radenović, actress Lidija Vukićević, lawyer Vladimir Đukanović and actor Branislav Lečić.

Commenting on the transition, Dejan Bursać, a senior research associate at the Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory, said the lack of traditional political experience among Studentska lista’s MPs could be both a challenge and an advantage. “Their absence of entrenched partisan habits may restore legitimacy and moral authority,” he explained. Bursać drew a parallel with the post‑2000 democratic transition, noting that the former Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS) struggled because many of its members still had ties to the Milošević regime. “Studentska lista does not carry that baggage, so its mandate to dismantle the current system could be pursued more cleanly and efficiently,” he added.

Bursać also expressed confidence that the academic experts will quickly acquire the procedural skills needed for parliamentary work. “They are specialists, professors and researchers; I do not foresee any obstacle that would prevent them from mastering the necessary political techniques in a short time,” he concluded.

Among the top twenty candidates on the Studentska lista are Dr Ilija Srdanović, physician Dr Katarina Stanković, dramaturg Željko Hubač, general surgeon Aleksandar Cvetković, actor Tihomir Stanić, professor Lidija Dimitrijević and electrical engineer Slobodan Vukosavić. Their diverse expertise contrasts sharply with the SNS roster, which includes figures with criminal convictions, controversial statements and a wide ideological spectrum ranging from nationalist to liberal.

The composition of Serbia’s next parliament will be closely watched both domestically and internationally. If the new cohort of academics can translate their expertise into effective legislation, the country could indeed set a precedent for evidence‑based governance in the region.

Sources (learn more):

nova.rs — https://nova.rs/vesti/politika/poslanici-studentske-liste-vs-sns-mogu-li-doktori-nauka-da-izadju-na-kraj-sa-naprednjacima-kad-ukljuce-vredjalicu/