The Bureau for Social Research (BIRODI) has publicly criticized Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, accusing him of using his state office to launch a premature political campaign. The watchdog group flagged a recent address from the Presidency building—where Vučić announced a new financial aid package for retirees and citizens—as a clear overstep of his constitutional boundaries to gain an unfair electoral advantage for upcoming, yet uncalled, parliamentary elections.
According to BIRODI’s extensive media monitoring, the President’s address was broadcast simultaneously across 21 television channels, including national public broadcasters RTS and RTV, as well as major commercial networks Pink, Prva, Kurir TV, Informer TV, Blic TV, K1, Tanjug TV, Euronews Serbia, and various local stations.
Constitutional Violations and Overlapping Powers
BIRODI points out that the President’s announcements directly infringe upon the established legal separation of powers within the Serbian government.
- Article 112 of the Constitution: Under this statute, the President of the Republic holds no jurisdiction over implementing or presenting social and economic policies.
- The Government’s Domain: Measures such as one-time financial handouts, pension increases, medication price subsidies, and other budget allocations fall strictly under the mandate of the Government of Serbia and its respective ministries.
- Blured Legal Boundaries: The organization emphasized that the constitutional authority to “represent the Republic of Serbia” does not grant the head of state the right to dictate executive economic measures or to utilize the Presidency building for party promotion.
BIRODI Media Monitoring & Constitutional Analysis
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Broadcasting Scale --> 21 TV channels aired the address simultaneously.
Constitutional Focus --> Article 112 (Presidential Powers) vs Article 123 (Government Mandate).
Violations Flagged --> - Usurping executive branch responsibilities.
- Utilizing state infrastructure for party promotion.
- Conducting an unannounced official campaign.
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Acting as Party Leader Rather Than Head of State
The watchdog concluded that Vučić’s rhetoric and behavior during the event compromised his mandatory role as a unifying figurehead for the nation.
Statement by BIRODI: “During the address, Vučić acted as a political leader and a member of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), rather than the president of all citizens of Serbia, thereby bringing his constitutional role into question. This massive media broadcast constitutes an unannounced parliamentary and official campaign, leveraging the prestige of state office for political promotion.”
BIRODI further warned that this practice explicitly contradicts long-standing recommendations from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). For years, international observers have urged Serbia to introduce a strict separation between state resources and party activities to ensure a fair, transparent, and level playing field for all political competitors.
