The Return of the 'Written Off': Nebojša Stefanović Attends SNS Main Board Meeting

Nebojša Stefanović, once a prominent figure in Serbian politics and a close associate of President Aleksandar Vučić, made a surprising return to the public eye by attending a Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) main board meeting. His presence at the gathering, held in Belgrade, was noted by party officials and captured in social media posts.

Stefanović held significant government positions, serving as Minister of the Interior from 2014 to 2020 and Minister of Defense until 2022. However, he was largely removed from public view and party functions following the 2022 elections. This sidelining followed intense media speculation about a rift between him and President Vučić, particularly after Vučić revealed he was being illegally wiretapped. Media reports at the time questioned Stefanović's responsibility in the matter and highlighted criticism from pro-government media and a fellow party member.

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The hall was full – and among the progressives was a somewhat unexpected guest – former Minister of Internal Affairs and Defense Nebojša Stefanović.

Further fueling speculation about his diminished standing were reports from 2018 by BIRN, suggesting Stefanović's father acted as an intermediary in arms deals involving the "Krušik" factory and Saudi Arabian buyers. Additionally, a former Montenegrin special prosecutor alluded to a conflict between Vučić and Stefanović as a reason for the Serbian Security Information Agency's alleged cooperation with the "kavački clan" criminal group.

Stefanović's rare public appearances since 2022 had led many to believe he had lost favor. His attendance at the SNS meeting, therefore, marks a significant, albeit unexplained, shift in his political standing.

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The Serbian Security Information Agency cooperated with the kavački clan, and the conflict with the rival škaljarski clan occurred when Aleksandar Vučić and Nebojša Stefanović 'went to war'.