Money in hand

The vaccination campaign gained momentum: what Aleksandar Vučić failed to achieve by personal example, he achieved by handing out three thousand dinars to every citizen who gets vaccinated.

"They will rule forever", is one of the most common comments "among the people".

Moralizing is not useful, vaccination is. And as for those three thousand dinars - no matter how much it was in total and by how much it raised the state's debt - it doesn't matter. Thanks to them, many will find it easier to pay the electricity bill, buy cream, drink a drink, make ends meet... Simply put, this is a trifle compared to the systemic robbery of those same citizens through Belgrade on the water, highways, urban rampage, devastation of nature the environment, the purchase and sale of arms and related corruption affairs, so dear to the current regime.

It's true, it's a bit unpleasant to see people pushing themselves in the Ušće Shopping Center after vaccination and with a voucher for three thousand dinars, but they achieved a double benefit in this way - for their pocket and for their health. No one is naive here - neither the citizens, nor the president. Both they and he are in the spirit of the times.

Namely, citizens are aware of Vučić's competitive nature. Instead of real work on raising awareness, providing timely information and designing a positive campaign, it is much more important for the head of state and the ruling party to be the leader of the region, of Europe, of the world, of this part of the solar system in terms of vaccination... Well, when he cares so much - reasoned the famously average citizen - let him pay something, he doesn't have to pay much. And he paid, just as he opened up with a hundred euros last summer to participate in meaningless elections. The difference is only in what and how it benefits from vaccination.

On the other hand, Vučić also elaborated the approach needed "so that the people would understand him". He compensated for citizens' renunciation of the right to hold them accountable with a system in which he doesn't have to do anything and can do anything if he keeps his mouth shut, minds his own business, knows how to be patient and knows the right people. An instructive example is the case of police officer Goran Stamenković - for taking responsibility for the demolition in Hercegovačka Street, the authorities legalized his building in Mirjevo.

Yesterday's anti-vaxxer Jelena Karleusa should be congratulated for changing her opinion. It is also certain that those three thousand dinars did not play any role. However, many see the festive reception given to the singer by Goran Vesić when she arrived for the vaccination, as a hint that the regime will be able to express concrete gratitude for this heavy blow to the anti-vaccine movement: delivered by "soft power", without progressive resentment to a good part of its electorate.

In this and such a system - to conclude - three thousand dinars for vaccination are not wasted money. On the contrary.