Tennis great Novak Djokovic has praised Serbia’s student-led movement after its stunning election victory against Aleksandar Vucic’s ruling party, saying the protesters had given people in Serbia and abroad a reason to feel proud of their country.
Djokovic reacted to the result at a press conference at the Swiss Indoors tournament in Basel on Tuesday. The 24-time Grand Slam champion has backed the student protests in the past and expressed admiration for the young people who spent nearly two years challenging the government.
“I’m very happy about this. My deepest respect to the students who fought and showed dignity and resilience. I have lots of admiration for what they’ve done. They managed to create a sense of pride in Serbia and in the world,” Djokovic said.
“The victory is secure and we all now have hopes that our country will be prosperous and enjoying the future that is coming.”
The comments came after Vucic conceded defeat in Sunday’s parliamentary electionin which the student-backed opposition movement challenged his Serbian Progressive Party. The outcome marks a major setback for a political establishment that has dominated the country for more than a decade, according to the Associated Press.
HOW STUDENT ENDED VUCIC’S RULE
The student movement grew out of protests following the collapse of a concrete canopy at the Novi Sad railway station in November 2024, a disaster that killed 16 people. Demonstrators called for accountability over the tragedy, with allegations of corruption and failures in construction oversight fuelling wider anger against the government. The authorities have denied wrongdoing.
Over time, the demonstrations developed into a broader challenge to the government, drawing support from people beyond university campuses. The movement also faced allegations of intimidation and violence during the protests, while students continued to campaign for political change.
The Student List, a party born in May 2025, took that campaign into the parliamentary election. Rather than relying on a conventional political leader, the movement brought together candidates from different backgrounds to challenge the ruling party.
Preliminary results reported by international media indicated that the Student List had secured a majority in the 250-seat parliament, a result that Vucic acknowledged in conceding defeat. The scale of the victory has raised expectations among supporters of the movement, although turning that electoral mandate into effective government will be the next challenge.
Djokovic’s response reflected the wider sense of hope surrounding the result. His praise was directed not simply at the outcome of the vote, but at the students’ conduct during a prolonged campaign marked by pressure and uncertainty.
The Serbian star has previously voiced support for the protesters, making his latest comments part of a longer record of backing their movement. He now hopes the electoral result will lead to a more prosperous future for his country.
– Ends
Source link
[ad_3]
