Aleksandar Vučić, President of Serbia, sparked an emotional and controversial scene during a public meeting with citizens in the city of Bor.
During a discussion about social assistance, a woman identified as Gordana Karić addressed the president to complain about administrative problems she has faced while seeking financial support for her seriously ill child.
She explained that for nine months she had not received any compensation for her son, who has undergone multiple surgeries and suffers from heart problems, according to reporting by Telegram.hr.
Instead of directly addressing the delay in payments, Vučić defended the institutions.
“Do not judge in advance. It is easy to attack and shout ‘wow.’ Do you know that the Center for Social Work verifies property ownership?” the president asked, suggesting that there might be a legal obstacle to the payment of assistance.
Karić responded that she owns no property other than the house where they live. Visibly distressed, she attempted to stop further questioning, emphasizing that she could not discuss the core issue in front of her child.
Despite her clear warning that the child did not know the truth, Vučić insisted that she disclose all details publicly so that, in his words, “the problem could be solved immediately.”
Under pressure, and in tears, Karić revealed that she is not the boy’s biological mother.
“They do not allow me to adopt him. I am his paternal aunt by marriage. His mother passed away. I have raised him for 13 years and meet all the conditions, but they keep rejecting me. I did not want him to learn this in this way — that I am not his biological mother,” she said, crying in front of her son seated beside her.
After the disclosure, Vučić appeared visibly affected, putting his hands on his head.
“I feel like bursting into tears with you. Procedures are complicated, but we will do everything we can to resolve this. You will receive an answer by Wednesday,” he said, adding that “in any case, you are a mother to the boy because you take care of him.”
