Serbia "shares" many experts with the former Yugoslav states. Some have dual citizenships, were born in families of mixed nationality, or are originally from one republic and have lived in another for years.
So in 2019, from Slovenian "recovered" basketball trophy coach Igor Kokoškov, who was born near Pancevo, but led Slovenia to the title of European champion.
At first glance, Aleksandar Vučić also thought in a similar way, who stated that he was his first choice for the prime minister of Serbia Zoran Jankovic, another Serb working in Slovenia.
He should be in charge, and Vučić should help him
Since it is announced the name of the new representative for the composition of the Government of Serbia, Vučić also stated that he spoke with his friend Zoran Janković and that he asked him in what form he wanted to be engaged, but that he replied that his mandate lasts until October 3.
"I guess he has been the mayor there for 18-19 years with a short break. But since he was born here, of course he has Serbian citizenship, because he was born near Smederevo. But he will help us a lot with the Expo and we reached an agreement there, he will be one of the key people from abroad who will provide us with that additional help with his knowledge and everything related to the EXPO," stated Vučić.
He added that they believe that in some future elections SNS can expect Janković's not only verbal help, but also more than that.
"I would like to do something in the future where he is in charge and I help him, to work together. We will see," said Vučić.
Long friendship
The friendship between Vučić and the mayor of Ljubljana is not new.
In January 2022, the Serbian media reported that Vučić allegedly spoke with Janković and offered him to be the mayor of Belgrade in the combinatorics for Šapić to be the president of the party and Janković the first man of the Serbian capital.
In 2023, Janković was in Belgrade to, as Vučić explained, "support our policy and the candidate for mayor of Belgrade, Aleksandar Šapić."
Vučić hosted him at a dinner organized for the guests at the opening of the Second International Wine Fair Wine Vision of the Open Balkans.
Aleksandar Vučić announced in February 2025 that he had received a letter from Zoran Janković, in which he expressed his support, offered help and urged him not to allow "pressures and attacks" to shake the planned direction of the country's development.
"Dear Mr. President, in these demanding and critical moments, when Serbia is facing numerous challenges, I want to express my sincere support and recognition for everything you have done for the development and stability of the country. Your leadership, determination and vision are key to the progress that Serbia has achieved in the past years, and I am convinced that this path must be continued," Janković stated in the letter.
In the letter, the content of which was transmitted by Vučić's cabinet, Janković states that he is "aware that the pressures are great" and that moments of uncertainty are "a trial for every leader."
Who is Zoran Jankovic?
The longest-serving is the mayor of Ljubljana, known for numerous affairs.
He was born in a Slovenian-Serbian family. He grew up in Smederevo, but after ten years his family moved to Slovenia. He was the vice-president of KK Olimpija, the president of his own handball club Krim Elekta, and the president of the Slovenian Handball Association. His candidacy for mayor was preceded by his dismissal from the position of president of the Mercator administration during the government of Janez Janša.
Since 2010, he has been an actor in affairs that raised a lot of media dust in Slovenia. In September 2012, he was arrested with his sons Juro and Damijana and three other people as part of an investigation into corruption and economic crime, writes Danas.
In the "Tritonis" case, that is, about the disputed sale of land along Vojkova cesta, in November 2014, the High Court rejected the prosecution's request to initiate an investigation against Janković.
In 2019, the district court acquitted him of accepting bribes in the "Grata" case, and in the case of the gravel pit in Stožice, the prosecution accused him of abusing his official position in order to obtain a large financial benefit for the company "Grep", in charge of rehabilitating the gravel pit. However, after the investigation and indictment, the District Court in Ljubljana suspended the criminal proceedings.
One of the most controversial affairs was the "Pharmacist" case. Janković suspected that he had arranged a job for a young pharmacist from Ljubljana, and in exchange he asked her for, and also received, sexual favors. Due to the mistake of the prosecutor Blanka Žgajnar, the District Court excluded the documents and wiretaps that proved this from the proceedings, and her appeals were later rejected by the Higher and Supreme Courts. The case was eventually dismissed.
At the beginning of 2024, the criminal police searched the building of the municipality of Ljubljana and also Janković's house, due to, as it was announced at the time, "the investigation of criminal acts of economic crime and corruption".
