Aleksandar VuÃÂiÃÂ (born 5 March 1970) is a Serbian politician serving as President of Serbia since 2017. A founding member of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), he previously served as President of the SNS from 2012 to 2023, First Deputy Prime Minister from 2012 to 2014, and Prime Minister of Serbia from 2014 to 2017.
Born in Belgrade, VuÃÂiàgraduated as a lawyer from the Faculty of Law of University of Belgrade. VuÃÂiàbegan his political career in 1993, as a member of the far-right Serbian Radical Party (SRS) in the National Assembly of Serbia. In 1995, he became the secretary-general of SRS. He was appointed minister of information in 1998 in the government of Mirko MarjanoviÃÂ. During his tenure as minister, which lasted until the overthrow of Slobodan Miloà ¡eviàin 2000, VuÃÂiàintroduced restrictive measures against journalists and banned foreign TV networks. After 2000, he was one of the most prominent figures in the Serbian opposition. Together with Tomislav NikoliÃÂ, VuÃÂiàleft SRS and co-founded SNS in 2008, initially serving as its deputy president. SNS became the largest party in the 2012 election and SNS soon formed a government with the Socialist Party of Serbia. VuÃÂiàwas appointed first deputy prime minister and elected president of SNS.
Despite not being prime minister, VuÃÂiÃÂ held the most influence and power due to being the leader of the largest party in the government. He was one of the crucial figures in cooperation and European Union (EU)-mediated dialogue between the governments of Kosovo and Serbia, advocating the implementation of the Brussels Agreement on the normalization of their relations. VuÃÂiÃÂ became prime minister in 2014, leading to the establishment of a dominant-party system. He continued the accession process to the EU by privatizing state businesses and liberalizing the economy. EU opened first chapters during the accession conference with the Serbian delegation led by VuÃÂiÃÂ in 2015. In 2017, VuÃÂiÃÂ was elected president of Serbia. He was re-elected in 2022.
During his tenure as president, VuÃÂiÃÂ initiated Open Balkan, an economic zone of Balkan countries intended to guarantee "four freedoms", and signed an agreement in September 2020 to normalize economic relations with Kosovo. A populist politician, VuÃÂiÃÂ supports the accession of Serbia to the EU and also wants to retain good relations with Russia and China. Critics have described VuÃÂiÃÂ's rule as an authoritarian, autocratic or illiberal democratic regime, citing curtailed press freedom and a decline in civil liberties. Those who view the results of VuÃÂiÃÂ's administration affirmatively highlight economic growth and the pursuit of pragmatic and balanced policies.
VuÃÂiÃÂ was born on 5 March 1970 in Belgrade to AnÃÂelko VuÃÂiÃÂ and Angelina Milovanov. He has a younger brother, Andrej.
His paternal ancestors came from ÃÂipuljiÃÂ, near Bugojno, in Central Bosnia. They were expelled by the Croatian fascists (Ustaà ¡e) during World War II and settled near Belgrade, where his father was born. According to VuÃÂiÃÂ, his paternal grandfather AnÃÂelko and tens of other close relatives were killed by the Ustaà ¡e. His mother was born in BeÃÂej in Vojvodina. Both of his parents were economics graduates. His father worked as an economist, and his mother as a journalist.
VuÃÂiÃÂ was raised in the Blokovi neighborhood of New Belgrade, where he attended the Branko RadiÃÂeviÃÂ Elementary School, and later a gymnasium in Zemun. He graduated from the University of Belgrade Faculty of Law in 1994.
He learned English in Brighton, England, and worked as a merchant in London for more than a year. After returning to Yugoslavia, he worked as a journalist in Pale, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina. There, he interviewed politician Radovan Karadà ¾iàand once played chess with general Ratko MladiÃÂ. As a youngster, VuÃÂiàwas a fan of Red Star Belgrade, often attending their matches, including the one played between Dinamo Zagreb and Red Star on 13 May 1990, which turned into a huge riot. The homes of his relatives were destroyed in the Bosnian War.
VuÃÂiÃÂ joined the Serbian Radical Party (SRS) in 1993, a far right party whose core ideology is based on Serbian nationalism and the goal of creating a Greater Serbia, and was elected to the National Assembly following the 1993 parliamentary election. Two years later, VuÃÂiÃÂ became secretary-general of the SRS. He was one of the SRS's volunteers who visited the army that kept Sarajevo under the siege. After his party won the local elections in Zemun in 1996, he became the director of Pinki Hall, which was his first employment.
In March 1998, VuÃÂiàwas appointed Minister of Information in the government of Mirko MarjanoviÃÂ. Scholars described VuÃÂiàas the crucial figure in the shaping of turn-of-the century media policies in Serbia. Following rising resentment against Miloà ¡eviÃÂ, VuÃÂiàintroduced fines for journalists who criticized the government and banned foreign TV networks. He recalled in 2014 that he was wrong and had changed, stating "I was not ashamed to confess all my political mistakes".
During this period, Serbian media was accused for broadcasting Serbian nationalist propaganda, which demonized ethnic minorities and legitimized Serb atrocities against them. In 1998, the government adopted Europe's most restrictive media law by the end of the 20th century, which created a special misdemeanor court to try violations. It had the ability to impose heavy fines and to confiscate property if they were not immediately paid. Serbian media were under severe repression of the state, and that foreign media had been seen as "foreign elements" and "spies". Human Rights Watch reported that five independent newspaper editors were charged with disseminating misinformation because they referred to Albanians who had died in Kosovo as "people" rather than "terrorists". The government crackdown on independent media intensified when NATO forces were threatening intervention in Kosovo in late September and early October 1998. The government also maintained direct control of state radio and television, which provided news for the majority of the population. After the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia began in March 1999, VuÃÂiÃÂ called for a meeting of all Belgrade's editors. Print media were ordered to submit all copies to the Ministry for approval and they were allowed to publish only official statements and information taken from media outlets, which either are controlled by the state or practice radical self-censorship. VuÃÂiÃÂ also ordered all NATO countries journalists to leave the country.
Tomislav NikoliÃÂ, deputy leader of the Radical Party and de facto interim leader due to absence of Vojislav à  eà ¡elj, resigned on 6 September 2008 because of disagreement with à  eà ¡elj over the party's support for Serbia's EU membership. With some other well-known Radical Party members he formed a new parliamentary club called "Napred Srbijo!" (Forward Serbia!). On 12 September 2008, Nikoliàand his group were officially ejected from the Radical Party on the session of SRS leadership. VuÃÂiÃÂ, as secretary-general was called to attend this session, but he did not appear. Tomislav Nikoliàannounced he would form his own party and called VuÃÂiàto join. VuÃÂiÃÂ, one of the most popular figures among SRS supporters, resigned from Radical Party on 14 September 2008. The next day, VuÃÂiàannounced his temporary withdrawal from politics.
On 6 October 2008, VuÃÂiÃÂ confirmed in a TV interview that he was to join the newly formed NikoliÃÂ's Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) and that he would be the Deputy President of the party. He then seemed to change his positions. In 2010 he made statements such as a "horrible crime was committed in Srebrenica", saying he felt "ashamed" of the Serbs who did it. "I do not hide that I have changed... I am proud of that." he told AFP in an interview in 2012. "I was wrong, I thought I was doing the best for my country, but I saw the results and we failed, We need to admit that."
VuÃÂiÃÂ briefly served as minister of defence and first deputy prime minister from July 2012 to August 2013, when he stepped down from his position of defence minister in a cabinet reshuffle. Although the prime minister, Ivica DaÃÂiÃÂ Deba, held formal power as head of government, many analysts thought that VuÃÂiÃÂ had the most influence in government as head of the largest party in the governing coalition and parliament.
As a result of the 2014 parliamentary election, VuÃÂiÃÂ's Serbian Progressive Party won 158 out of 250 seats in Parliament and formed a ruling coalition with the Socialist Party of Serbia. VuÃÂiÃÂ was elected Prime Minister of Serbia.
At a party conference of his ruling Serbian Progressive Party, VuÃÂiàannounced early general elections, citing that: 'He wants to ensure that the country has stable rule that its current political direction will continue â including its attempt to secure membership of the EU.' On 4 March 2016, Serbian president, Tomislav NikoliÃÂ, dissolved the parliament, scheduling early elections for 24 April. The ruling coalition around VuÃÂiÃÂ's SNS obtained 48.25% of the vote. VuÃÂiÃÂ's ruling SNS retained majority in the parliament, despite winning less seats than in 2014 parliamentary election. The coalition around SNS won 131 seats, 98 of which belong to SNS.
VuÃÂiÃÂ announced his candidacy in the presidential election on 14 February 2017, despite earlier statements that he would not run. According to the Constitution, Serbia is a parliamentary republic in which the presidency is largely ceremonial with no significant executive power.
After initial speculations that the incumbent president, Tomislav NikoliÃÂ, would also run, he backed VuÃÂiàand his ruling SNS party. VuÃÂiàwon the election in the first round, having obtained 56.01 percent of the vote. The independent candidate, Saà ¡a Jankoviàwas second with 16.63 percent, ahead of satirical politician Luka Maksimoviàand former minister of foreign affairs Vuk JeremiÃÂ.
A public opinion survey, carried out by CeSID, showed that significant proportions of VuÃÂiÃÂ supporters are composed of pensioners (41%) and that a large majority of them (63%) hold secondary education degrees, while 21% don't even have a high school degree.
The election result sparked protests around Serbia. Thousands of protesters accused VuÃÂiÃÂ of leading the country towards authoritarianism. Protesters organized the rallies through social media, insisted that they are not linked to any party or politician, and demanded a total overhaul of what they call "corrupt political, business and media systems that serve an elite led by Mr VuÃÂiÃÂ". VuÃÂiÃÂ said that the protests were organized by his political opponents who, he said, expected "the dictator would bring the police into the streets."
VuÃÂiÃÂ was sworn in as President of Serbia on 31 May, in front of Parliament. He promised to continue with reforms and said Serbia will remain on a European path. VuÃÂiÃÂ also said Serbia will maintain military neutrality and continue to build partnerships with both NATO and Russia.
After becoming president, VuÃÂiÃÂ disbanded the traditional police security service responsible for president's protection, and replaced it with members of the Cobras, military police unit which contrary to the law, protected him while he served as the prime minister from 2014 to 2017.
During late 2018 and early 2019, thousands of Serbs took to the streets to protest the presidency of VuÃÂiÃÂ. The protesters accused VuÃÂiÃÂ and the SNS of corruption and stated that VuÃÂiÃÂ is trying to cement himself as an autocrat, which he denied. In 2019, Freedom House's report downgraded Serbia's status from Free to Partly Free due to the deterioration in the conduct of elections, continued attempts by the government and allied media outlets to undermine independent journalists through legal harassment and smear campaigns, and VuÃÂiÃÂ's accumulation of executive powers that conflict with his constitutional role.
After VuÃÂiÃÂ's announcement of the reintroduction of lockdown in July 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, thousands of people protested, accusing the government of missteps in handling of the pandemic, including the premature lifting of restrictions and downplaying the risk to hold the elections. Some analysts said that they had not witnessed police brutality which occurred during the protest since the Slobodan Miloà ¡eviÃÂ's regime.
According to Amnesty International's annual report for 2021, VuÃÂiÃÂ's mandate is characterized by human rights violations, restrictions on freedom of expression and campaigns of harassment against the opposition figures, journalists and media outlets.
VuÃÂiÃÂ participated in the 2022 general election as the presidential candidate of the Serbian Progressive Party. He won 58% of the popular vote in the first round, and secured his second mandate as president of Serbia. VuÃÂiÃÂ announced the formation of the People's Movement for the State in March 2023.
Following the Belgrade school shooting and Mladenovac and Smederevo shootings in May 2023, large-scale anti-government protests took place against VuÃÂiÃÂ's rule. As a result, VuÃÂiÃÂ promised that early parliamentary elections would be held before the end of the year.
On 1 November 2024, the concrete canopy of the main railway station in Novi Sad collapsed onto the busy pavement below, killing 15 people. The collapse spawned a series of mass protests in Novi Sad, which then spread throughout Serbia, fueled by dissatisfaction with other issues including government corruption and media censorship. VuÃÂiÃÂ dismissed the protesters as "terrorists".
After his election as prime minister in 2014, VuÃÂiàpromoted austerity-based economic policies, whose aim was to reduce Serbia's budget deficit. VuÃÂiÃÂ's policy of fiscal consolidation was primarily aimed at cuts in the public sector. One of the measures was the reduction of pensions and salaries in the public sector as well as a ban on further employment in the public sector. On 23 February 2015, VuÃÂiÃÂ's government has concluded a three-year stand-by arrangement with the IMF worth â¬1.2 billion as a precautionary measure to secure the country's long term fiscal stability. The IMF has praised the reforms as has the EU calling them one of the most successful programmes the IMF has ever had. The GDP of Serbia has surpassed the pre crisis of 2008 levels as have the salaries. The economic prospects are good with GDP growth rising above 3% and the debt to GDP ratio falling below 68%
VuÃÂiÃÂ has pledged to tackle corruption and organized crime in Serbia. He also vowed to investigate controversial privatizations and ties between tycoons and former government members.
On the other hand, data from the Transparency International showed that a significant increase in perceived corruption was seen exactly from 2012, when VuÃÂiÃÂ came into power. According to research conducted by the Centre for Investigative Journalism, the battle against corruption in practice comes down to media announcements and arrests in front of cameras. "They are followed by a large number of criminal charges, significantly fewer indictments, and even fewer convictions".
In May 2023, the New York Times published an article by journalist Robert F. Worth which described alleged ties between VuÃÂiÃÂ and organized crime in Serbia, particularly its leader Veljko Belivuk. It detailed crimes committed by the Belivuk criminal gang and court transcripts in which Belivuk stated he had met VuÃÂiÃÂ, worked directly under him and provided services such as intimidating political rivals. VuÃÂiÃÂ called the allegations "lies", saying that the article was ordered by the CIA months prior to send him a message and that it was written in Belgrade, accusations which Worth rejected.
During the 2015 â 2016 European migrant crisis, VuÃÂiàstrongly aligned himself with the policies of the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, and publicly praised German migration policy. VuÃÂiàalso stated that Serbia will cooperate with the EU in solving the migrant stream going from the Middle East to EU member countries through the Balkan route, and that Serbia will be ready to take some portion of the migrants. "Serbia will receive a certain number of migrants. This makes us more European than some member states. We don't build fences," VuÃÂiàwrote on Twitter, while criticizing the migrant policies of some EU member countries.
During 2021, a series of mass protests erupted in Serbia against the construction of a lithium mine in Western Serbia by the Rio Tinto corporation. In January 2022, the Serbian government revoked licences for the Jadar project. In January 2024, VuÃÂiÃÂ stated that the government wants to hold further talks with Rio Tinto and that there should be more public discussion over whether the project should go ahead. If completed, the project could supply 90% of Europe's current lithium needs and help to make Rio Tinto a leading lithium producer.
On 19 July 2024, following EU pressure, VuÃÂiÃÂ, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and European Union energy chief Maroà ¡ à  efÃÂoviàmet and signed an agreement regarding the European Union's access to "critical raw materials" mined in Serbia, representing a further step towards facilitating the Jadar mining project. The project resulted in renewed environmental protests in 2024. One week later, Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka ÃÂedoviàsigned a memorandum with Maroà ¡ à  efÃÂoviÃÂ, Vice-President and "overseer" of the European Green Deal, agreeing on the basis of critical raw materials, battery value chains, and electric vehicles related to the mining project."
Until the new coalition government was formed in 2012, during the time he served as the secretary general of the Serbian Radical Party, the largest opposition party at the time, as well as during his position of the vice president of then newly formed Serbian Progressive Party, in 2008, VuÃÂiàwas highly critical towards Koà ¡tunica and CvetkoviÃÂ's administrations, and offered a "reversal" of the agreements made by Borko Stefanoviàand the other officials during the negotiation process. Upon forming the government, Vucic stated that his government "cannot pretend that that [the former administration] was some different state which made the deals".
VuÃÂiÃÂ was one of the key political figures in the negotiation process on Serbia's bid for EU accession, traveling to Brussels for talks with the EU's Foreign Affairs High Commissioner, Baroness Ashton, as well as to North Mitrovica to discuss the details of a political settlement between on behalf of the Government of Serbia and Kosovo administration. During his visit to North Kosovo, to garner support for the Brussels-brokered deal, he urged Kosovo Serbs to "leave the past and think about the future".
In 2017, VuÃÂiàcriticized the EU for "hypocrisy and double standards over its very different attitude towards separatist crises in Kosovo and Catalonia". In September 2018 in a speech to Kosovo Serbs he stated: "Slobodan Miloà ¡eviàwas a great Serbian leader, he had the best intentions, but our results were far worse." Journalists report that VuÃÂiàadvocates the partition of Kosovo, in what he refers to as "ethnic demarcation with Albanians".
On 27 May 2019, during a special session of the Serbian parliament on Kosovo, VuÃÂiÃÂ said: "We need to recognize that we have been defeated... We lost the territory." while also criticizing the 'unprincipled attitude of great powers' and "no one reacting to announcements for the formation of a Greater Albania". He stated that Serbia no longer controlled Kosovo and that a compromise was needed on the issue through a future referendum in the country. VuÃÂiÃÂ has close links to the Serb List and he invited Kosovo Serbs to vote for them in the elections.
On 20 January 2020, Serbia and Kosovo agreed to restore flights between their capitals for the first time in more than two decades. The deal came after months of diplomatic talks by Richard Grenell, the United States ambassador to Germany, who was named special envoy for Serbia-Kosovo relations by President Donald Trump the year before. VuÃÂiÃÂ welcomed the flights agreement and tweeted his thanks to American diplomats.
On 4 September 2020 Serbia and Kosovo signed an agreement at the White House in Washington D.C., in the presence of US president Donald Trump. In addition to the economic agreement, Serbia agreed to move its Israeli embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv starting in June 2021 and Israel and Kosovo agreed to mutually recognise each other.
On 10 October 2019, together with Edi Rama, Prime Minister of Albania, and Zoran Zaev, Prime Minister of North Macedonia, VuÃÂiÃÂ signed the so-called Mini Schengen (now known as Open Balkan) deal on regional economic cooperation, including on the free movement of goods, capital, services, and labor between their three countries, while they await progress on EU enlargement. A month later, the leaders presented a set of proposals to achieve the "four freedoms" and the first steps towards them, including the possibility to the open border area. In December, the three leaders also met with Milo ÃÂukanoviÃÂ, President of Montenegro, opening the possibility for the country to join the zone. Following the 2020 Kosovo and Serbia economic agreement the two sides pledged to join the Mini Schengen Zone.
In 2007 VuÃÂiÃÂ stated that the Democratic League of Croats in Vojvodina is a branch of the Croatian Democratic Union. In 2008, with the establishment of the Serbian Progressive Party, VuÃÂiÃÂ said that the goal of a Greater Serbia taking Croatian territory up to the proposed Virovitica-Karlovac-Karlobag line "is unrealistic and silly". The Croatian newspaper Jutarnji list claimed in a reportage that none of his family members had been killed during World War II, upon which he replied that these were "brutal lies and attacks on his family".
During 2015 and 2016, relations between Croatia and Serbia were further affected by to the ongoing migrant crisis, when Croatia decided to close its border with Serbia. In September 2015, Croatia barred all cargo traffic from Serbia, due to the migrant influx coming from Serbia in a move which further eroded the fragile relations between the two countries. In response to these actions, VuÃÂiÃÂ announced that counter measures will be enacted if an agreement with Croatia is not reached. The dispute was eventually resolved through the mediation of the EU Commission, yet the relations between the two neighboring countries remain fragile.
On 31 March 2016, Vojislav Seselj, leader of the Serbian Radical Party, was acquitted of War Crime charges in the Hague Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia. The verdict has caused controversy in Croatia. VuÃÂiàdistanced himself from à  eà ¡elj and his policy, but stated that the verdict should not be used as a tool for political pressure on Serbia.
On 7 April 2016, Croatia refused to endorse the EU Commission opinion to open Chapter 23, a part of Serbia's EU accession negotiations, thus effectively blocking Serbia' EU integration process. Serbia accused Croatia of obstructing its EU membership, and VuÃÂiÃÂ said that his government was: "Stunned by Croatia's decision not to support Serbia's European path." Croatia has not agreed for Serbia to open negotiations of Chapter 23. On 14 April 2016, the EU Commission rejected Croatian arguments in its dispute with Serbia.
On 23 May 2023 VuÃÂiÃÂ accused Croatia of attempting to topple the government in Serbia.
VuÃÂiÃÂ has maintained traditional good relations between Serbia and Russia, and his government refused to enact sanctions on Russia, following the start of the Russo-Ukrainian war. VuÃÂiÃÂ has repeatedly announced that Serbia will remain committed to its European integration, but also maintain historic relations with Russia. "We have proven our sincere and friendly attitude to Russia by being one of the European countries that refused to impose sanctions on Russia," VuÃÂiÃÂ said after meeting with Russian prime minister Dmitry Medvedev. "Serbia will continue pursuing this policy in the future."
During VuÃÂiÃÂ's mandate, Serbia has continued to expand its economic ties with Russia, especially by increasing Serbian exports to Russia. In early 2016, after a meeting with the Russian deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin, VuÃÂiÃÂ announced the possibility of Serbia boosting its military cooperation with Russia by purchasing Russian missile systems.
In December 2017, VuÃÂiÃÂ made an official visit to the Russian Federation for the first time as the president of Serbia. He expressed his gratefulness to Russia for protecting Serbian national interests, and stated that: "Serbia will never impose sanctions on the Russian Federation (in relation to the international sanctions during the Russo-Ukrainian War)". During his visit, he focused on strengthening cooperation in the field of military industry and energy.
On 25 February 2022, VuÃÂiÃÂ said Serbia would not impose sanctions against Russia during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
On 24 February 2024, Croatian foreign minister Gordan GrliÃÂ-Radman described VuÃÂiÃÂ as a Russian "satellite" in the Balkans during an interview on N1, adding that Vucic must decide whether to side with Russia or the European Union "because it is impossible and uncomfortable sitting on two chairs at the same time." VuÃÂiÃÂ denied the allegation, saying that GrliÃÂ-Radman "brutally interferes in the internal affairs of Serbia, but as usual he lies and insults the Serbian people and threatens its citizens." The Serbian foreign ministry issued a note of protest saying that it expected Croatian officials to "refrain from statements that represent interference in the internal affairs of Serbia and will lead a policy of reconciliation and good-neighborly relations between the two states."
On 24 February 2025, VuÃÂiÃÂ took responsibility and apologised after Serbia voted in favour of a United Nations General Assembly resolution calling Russia an aggressor state over its invasion of Ukraine. VuÃÂiÃÂ attributed Serbia's vote to his being "tired" and having "too many things (to deal with)", adding that Serbia was originally slated to abstain.
On 11 June 2025, VuÃÂiÃÂ made his first visit to Ukraine since the Russian invasion to attend a summit in Odesa hosted by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy. During the visit, VuÃÂiÃÂ said he supported Ukraine's territorial integrity.
Following the October 7 attacks, VuÃÂiàcondemned the "horrific attacks", adding that "the Jewish people have endured a history of suffering and Israel deserves to live in peace and security". Media reports have suggested Serbia is a major supplier of weapons and ammunition to Israel during the Gaza war, with at least two major shipments sent during the conflict. Serbia's state-owned arms manufacturer, Yugoimport SDPR, exported â¬42.3 million worth of arms and ammunition to Israel during 2024, mostly 155 mm artillery shells. In September 2024, Israeli President Isaac Herzog visited Sebia, meeting with VuÃÂiàin Belgrade.
In June 2025, due to the IranâÂÂIsrael war, VuÃÂiàannounced halt on exporting arms to Israel. This came after Iran warned that providing weapons to Israel would be considered an "act of aggression" against Iran.
In July 2017 VuÃÂiÃÂ visited the United States and met with U.S. vice president Mike Pence, where they discussed U.S. support for Serbia's efforts to join the European Union, the need for continued reforms, and further progress in normalizing the relationship with Kosovo. Referencing the proposed land swap arrangement between Serbia and Kosovo, U.S. national security advisor John Bolton has said that the United States would not oppose a territorial exchange between Kosovo and Serbia to resolve their long-running dispute. The U.S. State Department continues to maintain that the full normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo is "essential for regional stability", which VuÃÂiÃÂ has said before.
VuÃÂiàhas sought closer cooperation with China. He has met with Chinese president Xi Jinping in 2016, 2018, and 2019. After meeting with Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi, he secured Chinese help in combating the COVID-19 pandemic in Serbia through delivery of PPE and CoronaVac vaccine doses, which has contributed to Serbia leading COVID-19 vaccination rates in Europe. In October 2023, he signed a free-trade deal with China. During an interview with China Global Television Network in February 2024, Vucic said, "Taiwan is China â and it's up to you what, when and how you're going to do it â full stop".
In 2014, Dunja MijatoviÃÂ, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, wrote VuÃÂiÃÂ and made attention with the suppression of the media, which he denied and demanded an apology from OSCE. According to the 2015 Freedom House report and the 2017 Amnesty International report, media outlets and journalists have been pressured after criticizing the government of VuÃÂiÃÂ. Serbian media are also heavily dependent on advertising contracts and government subsidies which make journalists and media outlets exposed to economic pressures, such as payment defaults, termination of contracts and the like. Four popular political talk TV programs were canceled in 2014, including the renowned political talk show Utisak nedelje by Olja BeÃÂkoviÃÂ, which had been running for 24 years and was well known for its critical scrutiny of all governments since it began. In first report after VuÃÂiÃÂ took the office, European Commission expressed concerns about deteriorating conditions for the full exercise of freedom of expression. Report said there was a growing trend of self-censorship which combined with undue influence on editorial policies. Reports published in 2016 and 2018 stated that no progress was made to improve conditions for the full exercise of freedom of expression. In July 2016, the ruling party organized an exhibition of government-critical press articles and social media posts, labeled as 'lies', saying that they wanted to document wrongful attacks and to prove there is no official censorship. In 2017, Freedom House reported that Serbia posted one of the largest single-year declines in press freedom among all the countries and territories. Also, they emphasized that VuÃÂiÃÂ had sought to squeeze critical media out of the market and discredit the few journalists with the funds and fortitude to keep working. Some commentators have described that VuÃÂiÃÂ built a cult of personality, with the significant role of mass media.
Observers described that during the campaign for the 2017 presidential election, VuÃÂiÃÂ had ten times more airtime on national broadcasters than all other candidates combined and mainstream media under VuÃÂiÃÂ's control have been demonizing most of the opposition presidential candidates, without giving them the opportunity to respond. Organizations that observed the elections emphasized that the presence of VuÃÂiÃÂ in newspaper and the electronic media during the presidential campaign was disproportionate, adding that media have lost their critical role and that they have become a means of political propaganda. The OSCE Report explains that general reluctance of media to report critically on or to challenge the governing authorities, significantly reduced the amount of impartial information available to voters. They also mentioned that the government used public resources to support VuÃÂiÃÂ. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch reported harassment and physical assaults on journalists during the presidential inauguration ceremony, after VuÃÂiÃÂ won the elections.
In 2018, International Research & Exchanges Board described the situation in the media in Serbia as the worst in recent history, and that Media Sustainability Index dropped because the most polarized media in almost 20 years, an increase in fake news and editorial pressure on media. They also pointed out that the judiciary responds promptly only in cases in which the media allegedly violates the rights of authorities and ruling parties. The increased government control of the media comes as Serbian journalists face more political pressure and intimidation, in 2018 the Independent Association of Serbian Journalists recorded the highest number of attacks against journalists in decade. According to Serbian investigative journalism portal Crime and Corruption Reporting Network, more than 700 fake news were published on the front pages of pro-government tabloids during 2018. Many of them were about alleged attacks on VuÃÂiÃÂ and attempts of coups, as well as messages of support to him by Vladimir Putin. The bestselling newspaper in Serbia is the pro-government tabloid Informer, which most often presents VuÃÂiÃÂ as a powerful person under constant attack, and also has anti-European content and pro-war rhetoric. After VuÃÂiÃÂ was hospitalized for cardiovascular problems in November 2019, his associates and pro-regime media accused the journalists of worsening the president's health by asking questions about alleged corruption by government ministers. The Council of Europe warned that the investigative outlet was target of smear campaign from the state after they caught VuÃÂiÃÂ's son with members of crime groups, while the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project reported that VuÃÂiÃÂ "pledges to fight the lies". In early November 2021, seven US Congressman have accused VuÃÂiÃÂ of deepening corruption and putting pressure on the media.
Since VuÃÂiÃÂ's party came to power, Serbia has seen a surge of internet trolls and pages on social networks praising the government and attacking its critics, free media and the opposition in general. That includes a handful of dedicated employees running fake accounts, but also the Facebook page associated with a Serbian franchise of the far-right Breitbart News website. On 26 March 2020, Twitter announced that they had shut down a network of 8,500 spam accounts that worked in concert to write 43 million tweets praising president VuÃÂiÃÂ and his party, boosting VuÃÂiÃÂ-aligned content to increase its visibility and popularity, and attacking his political opponents.
Some commentators have compared VuÃÂiÃÂ to other strongmen in European politics and accused him of being an autocrat.
Until 2008, VuÃÂiàpublicly supported the Greater Serbia ideology, which he testified was envisaged as extending to a western border running along the ViroviticaâÂÂKarlovacâÂÂKarlobag line. In 1995, during the Croatian War of Independence, VuÃÂiàsaid in Glina (which was at the time controlled by Serb rebels) that 'Serbian Krajina' and Glina would never be Croatian, Banovina would never be returned to Croatia, and that if Serbian Radical Party had won elections, Serbs would have lived in Greater Serbia. In another speech from the early 2000s, VuÃÂiàcalled Karlobag, Ogulin, Karlovac and Virovitica "Serbian towns", stated that "they [SRS' critics] rejoice that Ustaà ¡e (referring to Croats) have occupied Serbian lands and want to convince us Serbian radicals that it wasn't Serbian, that we were saying nonsenses. (...) We want what's ours, Serbian." After split from the Serbian Radical Party and creation of the Serbian Progressive Party, VuÃÂiàsaid he no longer supports the Greater Serbia ideology.
On 1 September 2020, Montenegrin President Milo ÃÂukanoviÃÂ accused VuÃÂiÃÂ and Belgrade-based media of interfering in the internal politics of Montenegro, as well of allegedly trying to revive a "Greater Serbia policy".
Only a few days after more than 8,000 Muslim Bosniaks were killed by the Army of Republika Srpska (VRS) and paramilitary groups from Serbia in the Srebrenica massacre, VuÃÂiÃÂ said on 20 July 1995 in the National Assembly in a comment on the NATO bombing campaign against the VRS positions that "for every Serb killed, we will kill 100 Muslims". In 2015, he said that his statement from 1995 was "taken out of context" and "that was not the essence of that sentence."
Before leaving the Radical Party of Vojislav à  eà ¡elj, VuÃÂiàopenly and publicly celebrated and called for the protection of Ratko MladiÃÂ, a military officer convicted of committing war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. In 2007, while Mladiàwas still at large in Serbia, VuÃÂiàdistributed posters with the declaration "Safe House for General MladiÃÂ". During a parliament session he stated that the Serbian Parliament will always protect and be a safe house for the general and that any house in Serbia that bears the last name of VuÃÂiàwill protect and shelter MladiÃÂ.
In the same year, VuÃÂiÃÂ organized a street protest during which street signs with the name of the assassinated pro-western Serbian PM were replaced with Ratko MladiÃÂ Boulevard street signs. This vandalism has become a frequent activity of Serbian ultra-right groups on the anniversary of the Zoran ÃÂinÃÂiÃÂ assassination.
VuÃÂiàalso participated in protests against the arrests of war criminals convicted later, including Veselin à  ljivanÃÂanin, Radovan Karadà ¾iÃÂ, and Vojislav à  eà ¡elj, who was president of his party.
In 2024, VuÃÂiÃÂ condemned the UN General Assembly's decision to adopt an annual commemoration of the Srebrenica massacre.
It was during VuÃÂiÃÂ's term as the Minister of Information that Slavko ÃÂuruvija, a prominent journalist who reported on the Kosovo War, was murdered in a state-sponsored assassination. In 1999, before the assassination took place, VuÃÂiÃÂ gave a front page interview to the tabloid Argument in which he stated "I will wreak vengeance upon Slavko ÃÂuruvija for all the lies published in Dnevni telegraf" (ÃÂuruvija's paper). In 2014, VuÃÂiÃÂ apologized to the ÃÂuruvija family for having waited so long to bring the perpetrators to justice, and thanked everyone who was involved in solving the case for their work. Branka Prpa, ÃÂuruvija's common-law spouse, said VuÃÂiÃÂ participated in the murder and that he is the creator of the practice of persecution of journalists.
At an SNS gathering in Bor on 2 March 2025, VuÃÂiÃÂ referred to a female reporter from the state broadcaster RTS who covered the Serbian anti-corruption protests since 2024 as an "imbecile". VuÃÂiÃÂ later apologised for the remarks, which were condemned by RTS.
At tall, VuÃÂiÃÂ is one of the tallest world leaders.
On 27 July 1997, VuÃÂiÃÂ married Ksenija JankoviÃÂ, a journalist at Radio Index and Srpska reÃÂ. The couple had two children before divorcing. JankoviÃÂ died on 29 January 2022. At some point VuÃÂiÃÂ married Tamara ÃÂukanoviÃÂ, a diplomat with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia. On 9 June 2017, a week after VuÃÂiÃÂ took the presidential office, his wife gave birth to a son.
Apart from Serbian, he is fluent in Russian, English, and German. He learned Russian in a Belgrade high school and every second day of the week took a Russian language course to improve his knowledge.
During the opposition period, he has frequently appeared in popular TV shows. In 2006, VuÃÂiÃÂ became the winner of the first season of the Serbian version of The Pyramid, a talk show with a competitive element broadcast on Pink TV. He was the first politician who participated in the humanitarian dance contest Plesom do snova (in 2009) and the first politician to guest-star on a late-night talk show VeÃÂe sa Ivanom IvanoviÃÂem (in 2010). He also was a guest judge in one episode of the third season of Zvezde Granda, the most popular music competition in Balkans.
On 15 November 2019, he was hospitalized at a military hospital in Belgrade due to apparent "cardiovascular issues". Three days later it was reported that he was released. Some, including his media advisor and the deputy mayor of Belgrade, have said that his health problems were in part due to pressure from journalists. VuÃÂiÃÂ explicitly denied this at a media conference shortly after his hospital stay, stating that these health issues were chronic in nature.
During July 2020 VuÃÂiÃÂ became a student at Belgrade's College of Sports and Health, with the goal to become a basketball trainer for juniors after he ends his political career. Some Serbian journalists have reported that a mandatory condition for entering the college was active participation in sports for three years, which was removed from the official website shortly after VuÃÂiÃÂ's enrollment.
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