Serbia's Student Movement Won the Election With Newcomers Who Have Never Held Office

On Sunday, a protest movement started by students won Serbia's parliamentary election with a 250-person list that includes professors, actors, and farmers.

The names mentioned to succeed longtime leader Aleksandar Vucic form an unusual group. No one person leads the movement, and it remains uncertain who will become prime minister.

Ed McAllister, who leads Reuters coverage of Greece and the Balkans, said Serbia "could have a cardiologist, a chemist, a banker or even a basketball player running the country." None of the possible picks has any political experience.

The most serious option appears to be Dejan Šoškić, a former central bank governor. A central bank governor runs a country's central bank, overseeing the currency and the banking system. McAllister said Šoškić "seems to many like a leading candidate and the most serious political possibility."

One contender is Ilya Sardanovich, a cardiologist, a doctor who treats heart disease. He was the candidate the students chose to run. He has strong views that domestic reform is required in Serbia, but the source does not say what reforms he wants.

Another contender is Radamir Saichich, a chemistry professor. He has spoken in favor of keeping energy ties to Russia. McAllister noted that "Russia is a big energy supplier to Serbia."

The most famous contender with the least background in politics is Dejan Podiroga, a former basketball star who played for the Yugoslav national team. He led the team to the silver medal, for second place, at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. He is widely known and widely loved.

There is a saying in Serbia: "We have a God and his name is Dejan Podiroga." None of the four has held political office.