Serbian President’s Fallen Lieutenant Limps On

Defence Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic has fallen out of favour, but his political master and president may let him limp on.

“Nebojsa Stefanovic will leave power when I do,” Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said in December 2018, after Stefanovic offered his resignation as interior minister following an incident involving police and opposition political figures during local elections in the western Serbian municipality Lucani.

At the time, Stefanovic was one of Vucic’s closest associates. Two and a half years later, the situation has changed significantly, and Stefanovic, now Serbian defence minister, is no longer Vucic’s trusted lieutenant.

Both claim they have no conflict, but it is obvious there is none of the former intimacy or collaboration either.

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