Serbian student groups currently blockading university spaces have launched a scathing critique against President Aleksandar Vučić, turning his newly launched anti-corruption platform back on him and forcefully declaring that “the state is not one man.”
The backlash follows the July 10 launch of a state-backed portal titled “Ko si, bre, ti?” (“Who on earth are you?”). Promoted heavily by pro-government media, the platform encourages citizens to anonymously report corruption, abuse of office, and arrogant behavior by public officials directly to the president and his personal team.
The Critique: Bypassing Democratic Institutions
The student blockade criticized the initiative as a political stunt that undermines constitutional democracy. They argued that in a functional state, corruption is reported to the judiciary, the police, and independent anti-corruption bodies—not to the desk of the head of state.
“This sends a clear message: that in this country, institutions are insufficient, incapable, or completely irrelevant. It implies that there is only a single address for all problems, only one man.”
— Statement by Protesting Students
The students weaponized the platform’s own name to question Vučić’s sweeping political reach, asking:
- “Who on earth are you to decide on everything, despite clear constitutional limits on presidential powers?”
- “Who on earth are you that every single problem in Serbia awaits your permission while institutions remain silent?”
Vučić: “Excited and Proud” of First-Day Results
The student manifesto was triggered by President Vučić’s public remarks during the portal’s launch. Vučić announced that within the first hour of operation, 23 anonymous tips had already been registered.
Showing a tablet to reporters, the President expressed that he was “very excited” and proud of the initial output:
“I will not open these for you right now, but you can see here that I have already opened several. My team will open every single one, and I will personally review them all in the end. I am happy with what I have already seen—this is exactly what I was looking for.”
— Aleksandar Vučić, President of Serbia
Vučić maintained that the overarching goal of the initiative is to bypass bureaucratic red tape and demonstrate that “care for the citizens is what matters most.”
A Catalog of Unresolved Scandals
The students rejected the portal as an official public relations campaign designed to deflect from serious, unresolved institutional scandals tied to the ruling elite.
| Mentioned Scandal | Student Demands & Grievances |
| Jovanjica & Savamala | Immediate, institutional accountability for high-profile cases involving illicit state actions and illegal demolitions. |
| The Generalštat Project | Transparency regarding the controversial redevelopment plans for the bombed former military headquarters. |
| “Oskar” & Institutional Cover-ups | Clarification on the identity of high-level state figures mentioned in decrypted criminal communications, alongside alleged police interference. |
The protesters highlighted a stark contradiction in the president’s governance style: “When a factory opens—he takes credit. When a road is built—he takes credit. When financial aid is distributed—it is framed as his personal generosity, rather than the taxpayers’ money.”
“Will You One Day Be Accountable for Everything?”
The student blockade concluded their address with a sharp warning about the long-term dangers of consolidating state authority into a singular political figure, leaving the President with a final question regarding the ultimate price of absolute control:
“If, by your own actions, you are competent for everything, will you one day also be held responsible for everything? Because a state is not one man. A state is its institutions. And when everything depends on a single person, the state no longer exists.”
