As President Aleksandar Vučić organizes gatherings in front of the National Assembly, many are drawing historical parallels. The same location, similar scenery, and similar messages—just like in the late 1990s when Slobodan Milošević’s regime tried to demonstrate strength before its fall. We compared political images from two different times through archival footage and statement rports N1.
“From cradle to grave, half Vučić, half Sloba.”
Vučić’s recent appearance in front of the Assembly strongly recalls the image of Slobodan Milošević’s inauguration in 1997.
Everything is the same—red carpet, waving to allegedly spontaneous crowds, walking up the stairs, and then returning for a little more interaction with the people.
“This is the iconography, the need to gather the largest crowd possible in front of the National Assembly to show what was called a plebiscitary support for the leadership of the country. I think this is still the case today. It is typical of all authoritarian regimes when they are in crisis, to try to create the illusion of broad support,” says historian Srđan Milošević.
It’s not just the iconography; the reaction to criticism is also eerily similar.
Opponents were once called foreign mercenaries, and today they are blockaders. Both groups share the same mission.
“The members of the Democratic Opposition of Serbia, with money brought into the country, bribe, blackmail, and intimidate citizens, organizing strikes, riots, and violence to stop production, all to halt every form of work and activity,” said Slobodan Milošević back then.
Similarly, Aleksandar Vučić stated:
“Our domestic VAT is 5.5 billion less—directly linked to the violence of the blockaders and the terror our country is going through.”
