Belgrade volunteers clean Pioneers Park after Student List election victory
Supporters of the Student List gathered with bin bags to restore Pioneers Park, removing the pro‑government camp Ćaciland after the movement's surprise election win.
At a glance
- The Student List won Serbia’s parliamentary election, prompting supporters to clean Pioneers Park in Belgrade the next morning.
- Volunteers and municipal workers removed the pro‑government camp Ćaciland, repaired playground equipment, and cleared debris after two years of anti‑corruption protests.
- The movement has no formal leader or hierarchy, and its 250 candidates have yet to name a prime minister or outline a clear EU or Kosovo policy.
**Supporters of the Student List gathered with bin bags in Pioneers Park the morning after Serbia’s parliamentary election, cleaning up the site opposite the national assembly in Belgrade.** The park had been occupied for 18 months by a pro‑government camp called Ćaciland, where convicted criminals lived in white tents and attacked journalists. After the election, riot police stood aside, the camp’s barriers were removed, and volunteers joined municipal workers to dismantle the tents and disinfect the playground. Radomir Dalic combed the grass, saying, “It’s the smell of freedom,” while Tamara Tomic wore yellow gloves and said they wanted “a normal life without violence and without anyone torturing us.”
Cleanup and symbolism Hundreds of people answered the call to restore Pioneers Park. Some dismantled the mangled white tents, while others painstakingly cleaned and disinfected the climbing frames, swings and slides in the children’s playground. The effort reflected two years of anti‑corruption protests in which participants always cleaned up after themselves.
Governance questions The Student List has no formal leader or hierarchy; its 250 candidates were chosen by student assemblies and include academics, athletes, economists and engineers. The movement published an 11‑point plan focusing on anti‑corruption, judicial reform, media freedom, affordable housing and healthcare, promising “a doctor in every village.” However, it entered the election without naming a prime minister or a cabinet, raising concerns about how a broad coalition will govern. Kurt Bassuener of the Democratization Policy Council warned that fissures could appear quickly, while former EU ambassador Michael Davenport noted the lack of consensus on EU accession, Kosovo and regional issues. Ilija Srdanović, the top‑ranked candidate, downplayed leadership concerns, insisting the movement aims to avoid Serbia’s history of “creating the cult of personality or leadership.”
The clean‑up of Pioneers Park has become a visible symbol of the old regime’s removal, and voters hope more changes will follow. **Source: The Guardian World.**
Questions and answers
- What happened at Pioneers Park after the election?
- Supporters gathered with bin bags to clean the park, dismantling tents and disinfecting playground equipment after the Student List’s victory.
- How is the Student List organized?
- It has no hierarchy or leader; candidates were chosen by student assemblies and include academics, athletes, economists and engineers.
- What are the main policy points of the Student List?
- An 11‑point plan focuses on anti‑corruption, judicial reform, media freedom, affordable housing and healthcare, with a promise of “a doctor in every village.”
