Economist Šuković: Corruption in Serbia has affected all parts of society

Economist Danilo Šuković has delivered a stark assessment of Serbia, declaring that corruption has infiltrated every facet of society and has effectively turned the nation into a "captured state" according to World Bank definitions. In an interview with Beta, Šuković asserted that Serbian citizens are bearing the brunt of this pervasive corruption, which he claims sees institutions prioritizing the interests of political elites and criminal elements over the public good. He highlighted Serbia's low global ranking in corruption indices as evidence of this deep-seated problem.

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Građani Srbije debelo plaćaju to što se Srbija po korupciji među 182 zemlje nalazi na 116 mestu. Korupcija je u vlasti, koja ima moć da određuje kome će dati posao, subvencije, kome će nešto prodati ili presuditi, a da se zaobiđu zakoni. Korupcije svuda ima, Srbija je među najgorima.

Šuković’s critique extends to the judiciary, police, state institutions, and even the media, all of which he believes are compromised. He pointed to the lack of transparency in government contracts and procurement processes, where "four-eyes" deals replace proper tender procedures. The economist suggested that the current government's anti-corruption rhetoric, particularly from President Aleksandar Vučić, is merely a tactic for election campaigning and maintaining power, rather than a genuine effort to tackle the issue. He posited that a change in government is necessary, followed by a concerted societal effort to dismantle corrupt structures.

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Kada kažem korupcija mislim i na pravosuđe, policiju i državne institucije, ali i na medije.

Furthermore, Šuković lamented the "darkness" in both institutional and media landscapes, drawing parallels to the Slobodan Milošević era. He criticized the ruling coalition for manipulating media, including national broadcasters, to control the narrative and secure votes, describing it as an abuse of state resources. He expressed surprise that the European Union has not more forcefully addressed these issues, which he considers fundamental to human rights and freedoms, essential for any progress in Serbia's economy and citizens' living standards. The economist also noted a year-long decline in Serbia's economic growth, attributing it to a combination of global instability, energy crises, and internal weaknesses, including the societal crisis and a problematic economic growth model.

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Sve je predizborna kampanja i borba da se održi na vlasti i zbog toga su izbori rešenje.