The Vučić System: Corruption and Its Price
When the railway station canopy in Novi Sad collapsed shortly before midday on 1 November 2024, corruption in Serbia was given a price tag for the first time: 16 people died. The contract for the renovation – which had been inaugurated shortly before – was given to the Serbian construction firm Starting d.o.o. as a subcontractor to a Chinese consortium, bypassing tenders or bidding procedures. Designed in 1964 by architect Imre Farkas, the building had stood for 60 years until it was "renovated" by Starting.
The company benefits from its close ties to President Aleksandar Vučić’s Progressive Party (SNS), which secured it the contract. Despite the tragedy, Starting remains listed in the Serbian business register and, according to multiple sources, continues to operate as a construction company. Among other ventures, the firm is reportedly involved in the "Belgrade Waterfront" project. Here, investors with unclear finances are building a new city across 177 hectares – following the expropriation of residents, the demolition of an entire neighbourhood, and the destruction of a bridge, entirely without urban planning, environmental impact assessments, or restrictions.
Photo: Michael Wuertenberg
