Serbian Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabić accused the rector of the University of Belgrade, Vladan Đokić, of turning the institution into a political platform, arguing that his involvement in a prospective student electoral list violates the country’s higher education laws.
In a post on the social media platform X, Brnabić dismissed what she called “epic absurdities” justifying Đokić’s right to appear on a student-backed list of candidates for possible upcoming parliamentary elections.
“Of course professors are entitled to political views and engagement—many lawmakers and even party leaders are academics. But unlike others who engage politically within their parties, Rector Đokić has transformed the university itself into a political party,” Brnabić wrote.
She claimed Đokić, with support from international donors, had “occupied” and “privatized” the university, excluding dissenting students and media, and using university resources to form what she described as an election headquarters.
“This is not about being on a list. This is about hijacking a 200-year-old institution for political purposes,” she said, citing Article 43, Paragraph 10 of the Law on Higher Education, which prohibits political, religious, or party organization within universities.
Brnabić called for Đokić’s resignation, arguing he had overstepped legal and constitutional bounds.
There are currently no legal obstacles preventing Đokić from appearing on a student electoral list, according to legal experts interviewed by local media. The Serbian Constitution guarantees all adult citizens, including professors, the right to vote and stand for election, as long as political activities do not take place on university premises.
Đokić maintains that his actions are within legal bounds, emphasizing that the list would not infringe on university autonomy as long as activities are kept outside institutional grounds.
Critics of Brnabić’s stance point to past examples, including former university officials who ran for office without resigning, and call the accusations politically selective.
Transparency Serbia Director Nemanja Nenadić noted that while professors may lawfully run for office, they should refrain from public institutional duties during campaigns to avoid conflicts of interest or the appearance of impropriety.
Legal experts also noted that Đokić’s support for a potential list, in the absence of formally scheduled elections, has no legal force.