In a recent guest appearance on TV Pink, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić expressed hope that the ongoing blockades would soon come to an end, stating that they are “destroying our economy”. He further suggested that these disruptions could impact salaries and pensions. The former Prime Minister of Serbia, Miloš Vučević, echoed these concerns the following day.
This is not the first time the government has attempted to blame student protests for the country’s economic difficulties. However, economists argue that the president has failed to provide concrete evidence to support his claims, suggesting instead that the blockades will cease once the students’ demands are met.
Economic analyst Bogdan Petrović believes that the focus on the country’s economic problems is an attempt to divert public attention from the real issues. “I would like him to explain how these blockades are destroying the economy,” Petrović said, adding that this is likely part of a campaign to persuade the public that the protests are harmful. He also pointed out that the president had previously stated that the Fiat factory would start operating in the second half of January, but now, with February nearly over, that still hasn’t happened. “I don’t trust the president much until he provides concrete data,” Petrović added.
Economist Milan R. Kovačević argued that Serbia faces much more pressing economic challenges than the blockades. Among the issues students have raised, Kovačević emphasized that Serbia’s economy is suffering due to widespread inefficiency, which is far more damaging than the protests. “Too many sectors have been affected by the failure to properly implement laws in our country, and the movement for reform has become so widespread that it will be difficult to halt,” he explained. Kovačević also stressed that the European Union has raised concerns about the inadequate enforcement of laws in Serbia.
Retired economics professor Božo Drašković believes that the president should focus on resolving the current situation by addressing the students’ demands. “The president could order the Ministry of Finance, the Tax Administration, and others to support the university working group, which will demonstrate the justification for the 16 million euros allocated for the reconstruction of the railway station,” Drašković said.
He further argued that while disruptions due to the blockades may create minor obstacles to economic processes, they are not significant enough to justify the president’s claim that the country is facing an economic crisis. “It would be better for him to stop wasting money on unproductive projects like the National Stadium and to explain why billions of euros worth of city land were given away with no compensation for the conversion of public land into private property,” Drašković added. He also noted that January is generally a weaker month for the economy due to holidays and fewer working days, making the president’s statement about it being the “economically worst month” a typical seasonal variation.
Professor Veroljub Dugalić from the Faculty of Economics in Kragujevac pointed out that the president’s view of the blockades as harmful is his personal interpretation, while students believe their actions are necessary to draw attention to their conditions for a fair and accountable state. “The blockades will stop once their demands are met,” Dugalić said, adding that a major event is planned for Saturday, which will likely attract large numbers of participants.
All of Danas’ interlocutors agree that the blockades will persist until the students’ demands are addressed. However, they also warned that the country’s economic situation will continue to worsen if the government’s irresponsible policies remain unchanged.
