FILUM Student Parliament Elections Postponed Amidst Recognition Dispute

The upcoming student parliament elections at the Faculty of Philology and Arts (FILUM) in Kragujevac have been unexpectedly postponed. The decision comes after the citizens' association "SMENA" formally requested a delay, citing an appeal they filed concerning their status as a student organization. This move effectively halts the electoral process, which was scheduled for April 23rd.

According to a statement from the FILUM Student Parliament, "SMENA" submitted a request to postpone the elections until their appeal is addressed. Despite acknowledging what they termed "a series of untruths" previously spread, the Student Parliament decided to accommodate the request, leading to the withdrawal of the sole submitted candidate list. This action directly results in the postponement of the elections.

This situation stems from a dispute over the official recognition of "SMENA." The association, formed by students who previously led a nearly year-long blockade of the Rectorate building, was registered with the APR (Serbian Business Registers Agency) last September. However, their subsequent request to the faculty administration for official establishment as a student organization on March 20th was rejected. The faculty cited non-compliance with the Law on Student Organizing as the reason for the rejection.

Students claim they received this decision on April 17th, the same day the student parliament elections were announced, effectively preventing them from formally registering as an organization for these elections. They have since appealed this decision and submitted signatures as an informal group. The postponement leaves the future date for the FILUM student parliament elections uncertain, with the faculty administration promising an official statement that has yet to be released.

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We inform you that despite a series of untruths that have been spread in the public in recent days, we have decided to accommodate our colleagues and accept their request. The only submitted list has been withdrawn, which postpones the elections.