Europe Today: Serbia’s students topple Vučić as Israel braces for crucial election

Good morning. It's Monday, October 26th. You're watching Euronews, and this is Europe Today. Our top stories. Political earthquake in Serbia. The student list has won the country's parliamentary election, marking a dramatic breakthrough for a movement that emerged from months of student protests. In a brief statement to the nation, outgoing President Aleksandar Vucic conceded defeat. More than 1,300 people were arrested across France over the weekend as another wave of mass protests swept the country. At this time, authorities had significantly ramped up security operations. Protests over a range of issues also took place in other countries, such as Italy, Spain and Portugal. A divided Israel prepares to go to the polls tomorrow, deciding over the direction of the country and the political future of Benjamin Netanyahu. The prime minister has defined and dominated Israel's politics for three decades. Will he defy the odds again? We'll hear from former prime minister Ehud Olmert. And Brazil's left-wing president Lula wins a fourth term in office, defeating his right-wing challenger Flavio Bolsonaro. The 80-year-old took just under 52 percent in the run-off vote. Bolsonaro, who won the first round, called the result inexplicable and refused to concede. Welcome to the program, I'm Stefan Gromit. But first to the stunning outcome of the parliamentary election in Serbia. The vote was seen as a referendum on President Aleksandar Vučić's political dominance and the system that had been in place in Serbia for more than a decade. The vote ended with a crushing defeat for him and a spectacular breakthrough for a movement that had rapidly transformed itself into the country's most important political force. In the new parliament in Belgrade, the student list will have an absolute majority. Last night, the movement spokesman Radomir Sajic described the victory as the beginning of a new era. To discuss the outcome of the election, let's bring in Bojan Vranic, a political science professor at the University of Belgrade. morning to you. Good morning and thank you for having me. So Vučić controlled much of the political machinery, enjoyed extensive media influence and had a formidable party organization. How did the grassroots student movement manage to overcome all that? Yeah, so this is an extraordinary a historical moment in Serbian parliamentary democracy because this completely changes the political landscape of the country it's not just a victory over hybrid regimes leader it's it's it is a victory over existing parliamentary opposition it is bringing in a new fresh political elite new dynamics and it all began from as you said this grassroots movement who simply changed the the rules of the game. They stopped being this formal hierarchy party organization with this old, boring campaign managing. So they started a new form of campaign, more horizontal, more participative. They gave people a way how to participate, for example, to donate, to be silent, to be loud, to honk with their cars, to support in many other ways. And this constant mobilization led to historical turnout that was bigger than 5th October. Bojan, the student list is projected to win between 135 and 140 seats in the 250-seat parliament. But who actually holds power in this movement? And who will become Serbia's next prime minister? It is too soon to tell. There are a few names that emerge. One you just mentioned, Radomir Sajcic. However, student list, because, as you said, of the extent media pressure that Vučić was exercising, student movement had these tactics that the person who was always in front was more like a punching bag and a shield. to the student movement than an actual leader. So we don't really know who will be the actual leader, but I saw that, I heard that the procedures are such that we will soon see. Yeah. On that note, protesting against the government is one thing, running a country is quite another. Are these political newcomers prepared to govern? They told us last night that they are absolutely prepared. Judging by their program, we cannot expect any radical and sudden changes. And this is very much in line with the traditional conservative Serbian voters. So Serbian voters do not like a radical change. So they will vote for someone who will reduce continuity, but with some improvements. And this is something that we can expect in a short-term period. I'd like to ask you about the European ramifications of this election. Now, EU Council President Antonio Costa issued the following statement. He said, and I quote, We stand ready to support reforms on the rule of law, media freedom, the fight against corruption and strong democratic institutions and to work together to build Serbia's future in the European Union. So does this election bring Serbia significantly closer to EU membership, or are we overestimating the pro-European credentials of the student movement? My analysis shows that so far the student movement has been very conservative when it comes to the European Union. They aim to firstly improve the system within, and then once they, as they said, become a credible partner in a negotiation, an equal negotiation process, then the European Union will be their partner. So for now, I would not expect, I would not be overly enthusiastic that something, that a miracle, a miracle breakthrough in European integration will occur. Okay. Serbia has long tried to balance its relations with Brussels, Moscow and Beijing. Will the new leadership fundamentally change Serbia's foreign policy, particularly in relationship with Russia and its position on Kosovo? So if you look at the program, no. So it will remain as it was. If you look at the members of the student list where it's very heterogeneous. So there are some individuals, very influential individuals who are very pro-European that want a complete regional reconfiguration of the interstate relations. And then again, there are those who want even more sovereignty in the Serbian politics. Which current will win, it is to be seen in the following months. All right, Bojan Vranic, political scientist at the University of Belgrade. Thank you so much for your insights this morning. Israel is heading into a crucial election as well, with violence flaring in the occupied West Bank and the country deeply divided over its future. A major Israeli military operation over the weekend has raised tensions even further, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu battles for political survival. After three years of war, is Israel ready for a change of leadership? And would that bring a change of direction? Joining me now is former Israeli Prime Minister and outspoken Netanyahu critic Ehud Olmert. Good morning, sir. Thanks for coming on the show. Good morning. So, you have been one of Benjamin Netanyahu's fiercest critics. Is this election really about Israel's future or simply about getting rid of Netanyahu? No, it's about Israel's future and, I'd say, the nature and the soul of Israel. Is Israel a democracy that respects basic fundamental human values, moderation, compassion, respect for others, or Israel is a messianic, extreme, fundamentalist, radical country that is dominated by a group of thugs like Ben Gvir, Smotrich, and Netanyahu? So, this is, of course, an inevitable battle about the future of Israel, but the future of Israel, the future of Netanyahu, may become the disaster of the state of Israel. And that's why it is so widely... Netanyahu has survived political crises, corruption allegations, and three years of war. what makes you believe israeli voters are finally ready to turn the page well you know i don't know much except for what i see in the polls that are run on a daily basis by all the different channels in israel and in all the different polls in all the different channels for a long period of time there was not one single uh poll which gave the bloc of netanyahu more than 51 seats uh in most cases they got less than 50, which means that they are short of at least 10 to 11 seats in order to be able to form a coalition. So I think it's moving rapidly into the point where the bloc of change led by General Eisenkot, the former chief of staff of the Israeli army, was an entirely different person from Netanyahu, the opposite of Netanyahu. everything bad about Netanyahu is almost everything good about Eisenkot. He's not flamboyant. He's not outspoken. He's a very modest, humble, reserved, restrained, responsible person. And I think that people are ready for him. If I may follow up on this, you have publicly backed Gadi Eisenkot, who's a former military chief, why should Israelis trust another former general to lead the country and what would be actually, what would he do actually differently? Considering the history of the state of Israel and the fact that throughout our history from the proclamation of the state of Israel going back to 1948, we always had to fight in 48, in 56, in 67, in 73, in between the big wars, small battles, and of course the war in Lebanon once and twice, and in Gaza and so on and so forth. So, of course, the centrality of the battle for life, which has characterized the history of the state of Israel, made the generals and former generals of the army, particularly which were associated with military victories, very dominant figures in the public discourse in the state of Israel. Gadi Eisenkot is the most unlikely president or prime minister in the state of Israel. The reason he is unlikely is because, although he is a former chief of staff of the Israeli army in person, in the nature of a man, in the manner in which he handles himself as a human being, is the opposite of Netanyahu. And I think that one of the reasons why he has become so popular is precisely because of this. Where Netanyahu is pompous, with lots of militaristic and chauvinistic rhetoric, Gadi Eisenkot is the opposite. While Netanyahu is creating an atmosphere of hysteria and fear, Eisenkot creates an atmosphere of restraint, of responsibility, of moderation, and of open mind about all the different options. So I think that this has made him. The fact that he is the opposite of Netanyahu, that he is not arrogant, that he is reserved, that he is restrained. And I think that the policies are not going to be 180 degrees different from Netanyahu. It will take time. Israel has to pull out from the trauma which, of course, devastated us on the 7th of October. But I think that we are on the way to change the atmosphere, to change the attitude, and to become normal again, which we are not at the present time. Sir, you mentioned the polls. Now, the polls also suggest a deeply divided electorate and no guaranteed parliamentary majority. Could Israel end up with political paralysis? And who would be the prime beneficiary of such chaos? Look, there is, in terms of numbers, in terms of figures, there is an option of a stalemate where there will be a larger bloc for change, but insufficient in terms of the absolute majority numbers which we need. So that will depend on whether the bloc of change will agree to cooperate with our parties, which will provide the absolute majority. There is a growing understanding and awareness and desire amongst many Israelis that the Arab parties should be part of government. They are part of the Israeli system. They are part of the Israeli citizens. They are just as good as everyone else, and they are loyal to the country, and there is no reason. But, of course, the events with the Palestinians and the military and violent confrontation and the massacre of Israelis by the Hamas at the time, it created a certain mood of restraint and of caution about partnership with Palestinians. That has to change. I think that the only person that can change it, hopefully, after the elections, will be Gadi Eisenkot. But it remains to be seen. And that may change the tide and provide the opposition with enough numbers to be able to form government. All right. Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, thank you so much, sir, for your time this morning. Really appreciate it. France has seen a fresh wave of protests this weekend following last week's scenes of looting and violence. Authorities deployed a major security operation, but clashes still broke out in Paris as demonstrators accused the government of restricting their right to protest. Meanwhile, thousands took to the streets against the far-right national rally as Marine Le Pen launched her presidential bid. To bring a closer view of what was happening over the weekend in France. We're joined now by our French correspondent, Estelle Nielsen-Julien. Good morning, Estelle. So, you were on the ground this weekend. Did the security apparatus deployed by the government successfully keep the situation under control this time? Good morning, Stefan. Well, yes, there were some clashes which occurred this weekend across the country, but overall the demonstrations, protests were peaceful and there was nothing like the scenes of violence and looting that we saw the previous weekend. As you mentioned, a major security operation was deployed, more than 70,000 police officers and the military outside strategic sites, including the Elysee and Matignon. The government also implemented bans on protests in a number of French cities. And here in Paris, they changed the protest route at the last minute, meaning that protesters were not allowed to march from the center of Paris, from the Place de la Bastille, but instead had to demonstrate further from the outskirts of the city. Lots of protesters I spoke to and trade unions were angry about this decision because they told me that they believed that their right to protest was being infringed upon. As I mentioned, there were some clashes in Paris in the eastern outskirts of the city. According to the government, they say that agitators arrived at the end of the march to cause chaos. chaos. Some individuals threw glass bottles, bricks at the police, and the police responded with tear gas and water cannons. As for what's next, trade unions and protesters I spoke to are very much determined to keep going with the movement. Today, the prime minister will meet with student secondary school unions and is expected to announce a range of measures. So we will see today what's the outcome from all of this. Stefan. And, Estelle, another major event took place this weekend. The National Rally Party held its conference in the city of Orléans. What were the main takeaways? Yes, so thousands of people, as you say, attended this conference in Orléans. On Saturday, Jordan Bardella was re-elected as the president of the National Rally Party with 99% of the vote. On Sunday, Marine Le Pen launched officially her presidential bid. In terms of key topics, there was a big, big focus on security, and this was also in the context of the violence and looting which occurred last weekend. So Marine Le Pen emphasised the importance of law and order, tougher immigration laws. She also said that French nationality is something which should be earned and also that foreigners with criminal records should be deported from France. So these were some of the key topics. And just to remind our viewers, at present, Marine Le Pen is polling around 33%. So she is coming out first in the polls ahead of France's presidential elections next spring. Stéphane. All right. Estelle Nizan-Julien, live from Paris. Thank you so much. And that does it for us today. Thank you for watching. I'm Stéphane Grobe and I'll see you tomorrow.