Student Protests: Vucic Ousted in Serbia, Unrest Spreads

Aleksandar Vucic, the long-time leader of Serbia, has been removed from power. Student-led protests forced this change after nearly two years of demonstrations. The unrest focused on perceived corruption and creeping authoritarianism. This event marks a major shift in the region's political landscape.

Protesters across Europe have cited similar grievances. These include poor schooling facilities, a lack of economic opportunity, and the rising cost of living. In France, the demonstrations have occasionally turned violent. Thousands of shops in the country were damaged or looted in recent weeks. Police responded with stun grenades and water cannons.

Stasa Piletic, a student protester in Serbia, described the immediate aftermath. She said, "Waking up, the first thing we felt was certainly a sense of relief and freedom." Piletic added that she feels a sense of victory. She stated, "I feel that we finally moved from protests to responsibility."

In Milan, Italy, 21-year-old student Chiara described the movement as a spontaneous response to collective anger. She noted that Italian students face schools with insufficient teachers and crumbling buildings. Chiara argued that the ruling class has stolen the ability to imagine a future. She described the prospect of underpaid jobs and overpriced housing in distant cities.

A 2025 European Union survey found that 40% of people aged 16 to 30 cited rising prices and the cost of living as a top concern. The same data showed that 26.3% of young adults aged 18 to 24 faced a risk of poverty or social exclusion. This was the highest risk group in the EU. In contrast, adults aged 65 and older had the lowest risk at 18.8%.

Younger voters are also concerned about the financial burden of an aging population. In France, people over 60 make up a quarter of the population but own 60% of the nation's wealth, according to the OFCE think tank. French public pensions are set to reach 14% of economic output. This is less than Greece and Italy, which spend around 16% of GDP on public pensions. However, it is much higher than countries like Australia and South Korea, which spend less than 4%.

Bilal Narjissi, a 17-year-old student in a suburb north of Paris, has been protesting against deplorable school conditions. He reported that students were evacuated last year after a roof collapsed on the courtyard. Narjissi said the protests demonstrated that young people in Europe are united. He added, "We all agree on one point: that young people are treated like children, far too much, and that they aren't listened to enough."

A French government report from October 2026 indicated that pension spending rose by 2.5 percentage points of GDP between 2000 and 2023. During the same period, education spending declined by 0.5 percentage points. The report showed that 32% of the education ministry’s budget goes toward pensions. This crowds out funding for other areas.

Unrest has also spread to Albania. Student-led demonstrations against Prime Minister Edi Rama's government have engulfed Tirana and other cities. The protests are fueled by anger over corruption, a lack of jobs, and poor education standards. Xyke Kurti, a 19-year-old architecture student, said the prime minister spent 130 days not listening to students. She argued that connections often beat talent in Albania.

A demonstration is planned in Germany this weekend. The event will focus on the cost of living, inequality, war, and the state of schools. In Serbia, Luka Stojakovic, another protester, addressed the challenge of governing. He noted that the students and their candidates lack experience in governance. Stojakovic stated, "We have seen where people with political experience have brought us."