Miroslav Aleksić: Serbia's public procurement a cover for corruption

Serbian MP Miroslav Aleksić told the parliament that public procurement has become a “paravan for pljačku građana” (a cover for the robbery of citizens). He cited a state audit showing more than €1 billion spent outside legal procedures since 2024 and that 50 % of all tenders had only a single bidder. Aleksić highlighted examples such as the firm “Magna farmacija”, which receives nearly daily tenders and is the sole offer in 90 % of cases, saying, “there is no competitiveness, prices cannot be lowered and citizens’ money is spent without any control.” He also compared infrastructure costs, noting that a Serbian highway costs €25 million per kilometre versus €10 million in Croatia, €6.3 million in Romania and €3 million in Bulgaria. Aleksić warned that forensic analysis of past procurements will expose those who stole public funds, adding that his own assets have been examined with no wrongdoing found.