🇷🇸"We want justice, not free sandwiches!"
Serbians Reject Bribes, Demand Justice: How a Free Sandwich Became a Symbol of Corruption—and a Rallying Cry for Change
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The original text was published in Swedish by Global Bar Magazine.
In Serbia, the term sendvičari – "sandwich eaters" – has become synonymous with the regime’s attempts to bribe citizens. But now, more and more people are saying no to the free sandwich. They want justice instead.
Over the past month, Serbia has been marked by massive protests against corruption and abuse of power triggered by the deaths of 15 people when the newly built roof of the railway station in the city of Novi Sad collapsed on November 1, 2024.
At these protests, signs often appear with messages like “We don’t want any sandwiches!” or “I am here of my own free will, not for a sandwich!”. Why?
The term sendvičari (sandwich eaters) has become an insult and a symbol of the system of political clientelism and corruption that defines Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić’s authoritarian rule.
But the protests go further back than that. And so do the regime’s attempts to keep people complacent – including, quite literally, with a sandwich!
The phenomenon has its roots in the ruling Serbian Progressive Party’s (SNS) strategy for mobilising supporters and creating an illusion of popular support. Before political events, such as election rallies or demonstrations in support of the government, it was common for the party to bring in supporters from across the country. These participants are often enticed with small or large rewards, including sandwiches.
There are many social media videos showing sandwiches being handed out to demonstrators, with Vučić himself being shown in many of these videos making sandwiches himself when visiting a bakery.
This doesn’t necessarily mean those present sympathize with Vučić or his politics. On the contrary, it is often a matter of economic desperation, as many of those waving SNS flags and applauding the president are public sector employees or work in state-controlled companies and have received clear “recommendations” from their superiors to attend. Refusing to participate can lead to problems at work, including being fired or facing other arbitrary and unfair consequences, reminiscent of the situation in Belarus and Russia.
Over time, sendvičari has become a mocking term the opposition and protesters use to describe those who support Vučić’s regime for opportunistic reasons rather than ideological conviction.
The latest protests in Serbia, the largest since the 1990s, have again brought this phenomenon into focus. At demonstrations, people have held up signs mocking the system: “There are no sandwiches here, only freedom!” and “I came here for justice, not for a sandwich!”
The sandwich has simply become a political metaphor for bought loyalty and false democracy. It also reminds us that despite the Serbian government’s rhetoric about national pride and sovereignty, it ultimately relies on a system that exploits people’s poverty and vulnerability to maintain power. All for the price of a sandwich.
What started as more sporadic student-led protests with only four demands towards the public institutions have resulted in a general strike and a process of democratic revolution and general political change in Serbia. The next larger demonstration is in Belgrade on 15 March and could end up with more than 200,000 participants. For many Serbians and especially for younger generations, there is a widespread feeling of “now or never” regarding the country’s future, including when it comes to European integration.
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