Interior Minister Ivica Dačić claims that recent leadership changes in Serbia’s police are part of routine “systematizations,” insisting that no purge is underway and that the new appointments are purely professional. However, the moves raise serious questions about political interference and loyalty-driven appointments.
Dačić defended the placements of Colonel Radoslav Repac as commander of the Gendarmerie and Igor Žmirać as head of the Special Anti-Terrorist Unit, stating they are “professionals in their fields.” Yet the emphasis on professionalism appears hollow when these decisions coincide with a broader pattern of consolidating power within the ministry. Observers argue that these appointments prioritize political allegiance over merit and public accountability.
Addressing the protests, Dačić suggested the opposition sought police support for a coup, claiming that no unit or individual refused any order. This framing exposes a troubling culture where obedience is demanded above the rule of law, raising concerns that the police are being positioned as instruments of political power rather than defenders of public security.
While Dačić presents these changes as preserving stability, critics see them as a consolidation of influence, undermining democratic norms and institutional independence. What is presented as a routine administrative process may, in reality, be a calculated effort to ensure control over law enforcement, leaving Serbian citizens to question whether their police serve the public—or the minister.
