Slobodan Cvejić, Vice President of the Serbia Center (SRCE), has accused Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) of repeatedly exploiting children in political campaigns during every election cycle.
Speaking to Nova TV, Cvejić, a former member of the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media (REM), stated that the REM Council has failed to respond to such practices, despite clear regulations addressing the issue.
Cvejić distinguished between incidental appearances of children in media, such as playground footage, and orchestrated interactions for political purposes. “It may not be considered exploitation if children appear casually on TV, but when Vučić visits a child, shakes hands with them and their parents, talks, and cameras capture it, that is clear exploitation,” he said.
He emphasized that such appearances often occur without parental consent required under journalistic standards, raising concerns about the children’s rights and welfare. “Even the parent’s agreement cannot legitimize a child’s participation in a political campaign, as this carries legal and ethical responsibilities,” he noted.
Cvejić further explained that other legal avenues exist to address these issues if REM does not act, including courts, prosecutors’ offices, child rights organizations, NGOs, and media oversight. These mechanisms ensure that the welfare of children is protected and violations of their rights are addressed.
He argued that Vučić uses these staged appearances to reinforce his personal propaganda and cultivate a “cult of personality.” He recalled a previous media event where Vučić was portrayed as a savior during a snow rescue in Subotica. “Vučić continues to present himself as the rescuer—saving Kosovo, saving Serbs, rescuing the economy—while repeating the same narrative in every election,” Cvejić said.
According to Cvejić, these practices are part of a broader strategy to influence public perception and consolidate political power by portraying Vučić as the benefactor, while deflecting blame for negative outcomes onto others.
