The grieving mother who became a symbol of the protests in Serbia

The student-led coalition, University List, won the Serbian elections without a charismatic leader, focusing instead on collective student activism. Ilija Srdanović, a cardiologist, led the list but did not embody the typical political figure. Dijana Hrka emerged as a symbolic leader following protests after a tragic incident at the Novi Sad train station, drawing parallels to real-life stories of social justice movements. Her role highlighted the importance of grassroots activism in challenging established power structures.