Serbia’s Narcissistic President Loves Giving Medals – to Himself

The Covid-19 epidemic also worked out for Vucic, he did not deliver the awards to the laureates at the same time, but in smaller groups and on different days. Thus, TV viewers in Serbia could watch the soap opera "The President Presents the Order" for weeks.

For those who know less about the "manners" of the Serbian President, it is necessary to say that he is a man who does not miss any opportunity to emphasize himself, sometimes directly ("I decided so"), and sometimes through "wise" politics of which he is the only creator. The same happens at the awards ceremony.

He explains to the ones who got the decorations what it means for them, how they should behave in the future, and apologizes to them that their endeavors had not been noticed so far. This, of course, points to the conclusion that he was the one who corrected this injustice. He told the famous violinist Stefan Milenkovic that he would have to act "very responsibly in the next 60 years of his life", "because he is recognized by Serbia".

French President Emmanuel Macron wearing a protective face mask (L) greets Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic (R) as he arrives for a meeting and lunch at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, 01 February 2021. Photo: EPA-EFE/IAN LANGSDON

The Covid-19 epidemic also worked out for Vucic; he did not deliver awards to the laureates at the same time but in smaller groups and on different days. That way, TV viewers in Serbia could watch the soap opera The President Presents the Order for weeks.

For those who know less about the "manners" of the Serbian President, one might say that he is a man who does not miss any opportunity to emphasize himself, sometimes directly ("I decided so"), and sometimes through "wise" politics of...