After Vucic defeat, Serbia waits to learn how student-backed leaders will govern

The constitution allows up to 90 days for the creation of a government, once the parliament is convened after the announcement of final results by the State Election Commission."I thought it was unbelievable, I still do not believe it.

It was too long, and (Vucic) was pressuring us for a long, long time," said university administrator Marijana Radovanovic Pajovic.Vucic dominated Serbian politics as prime minister or president from 2014.

But he was swept from power by a list of student-backed candidates born out of anti-corruption protests following the deaths of 16 people in the collapse of a train station canopy in the city of Novi Sad.The students' win marks a profound political shift in the country of some 6 million people and is reminiscent of the defeat of Hungary's Viktor Orban in April.

It may also offer inspiration to other student movements that have cropped up across Europe in recent weeks demanding better education standards and prospects.While the students' candidates include university professors, actors and farmers, the movement is without a leader – a strategy employed during protests to avoid any smear attempts by the government.

It is unclear who will become prime minister and assume other key positions in order to enact the students' domestic agenda, which aims to root out graft and improve schooling, and manage the country's place on the international stage."This corruption that has entered into all pores of our lives…of course it will change, we are hoping we will slowly go into that direction of a normal community," said 60-year-old insurance….

I don't even know who is standing behind, who those people are, who will be leading the country," said 60-year-old civil worker Senka Radakovic.Meanwhile, supporters of the student movement set about cleaning up a park near the parliament building in Belgrade that had long been used as a camp by Vucic's supporters.

After Vucic defeat, Serbia waits to learn how student-backed leaders will govern Reuters | Updated 6 minutes ago | Student-backed candidates won 52.7% of votes, ahead of Vucic's alliance on 39.2%, with 99% counted.

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