Serbia's State TV Director Resigns Following Historic Election Shift
Following Aleksandar Vučić's election defeat in Serbia, the head of state broadcaster RTS resigned amid pressure from the student-led opposition movement, which secured 140 parliamentary seats and demanded sweeping institutional reforms.
The political transformation in Serbia continues to unfold following the recent parliamentary elections, which ended the 12-year rule of Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić and his Serbian Progressive Party (SNS). Amid mounting pressure from the student-led opposition movement that secured a decisive victory, the director of Serbia's state broadcaster RTS, Manja Grčić, tendered her resignation, acknowledging that her continued tenure could be seen as an obstacle to necessary reforms.
Vučić, who has led the country since 2014, conceded defeat after the "Student List" secured 140 seats in the 250-member parliament, leaving the SNS with 104 seats. While supporters credit Vučić with economic growth and infrastructure modernization, critics have long accused his administration of authoritarianism, widespread corruption, and exercising tight control over the media. According to independent media watchdogs, Serbia ranked 104th out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index, the lowest position in its history, with state-backed channels dedicating the vast majority of coverage to government officials while sidelining the opposition.
Following the election results, student leaders have demanded sweeping changes across government institutions, calling for the resignation of top officials in the police, intelligence agencies, and the judiciary. Filip Obuović, a representative of the student movement, emphasized during a press conference in Belgrade that the institutions belong to the citizens and that the rule of law must be restored without resorting to political revenge or intimidation.
In addition to the changes at RTS, public scrutiny has intensified over pro-government private media outlets such as Informer TV, which faced severe criticism for aggressive campaign rhetoric and biased reporting. While Vučić has condemned the political shifts and recent protests as revolutionary terror, the newly empowered opposition movement remains committed to dismantling state media bias and ensuring transparency across all public expenditures.
