Economics Professor Dejan Šoškić criticized the Serbian government’s recently announced one-time financial aid to citizens as a pre-election tactic. Speaking to N1, Šoškić argued that the country doesn’t need “election gifts” but rather professional analyses and a determined fight against corruption. He implied the rebalancing of the budget to facilitate these payments represents a misallocation of resources. Šoškić believes that focusing on systemic issues—particularly corruption—would be a more effective long-term strategy for economic improvement. He suggested the funds would be better spent on in-depth economic assessments to inform sound policy decisions. The professor’s comments highlight concerns that the financial aid is politically motivated rather than addressing fundamental economic challenges. This criticism arrives amidst preparations for upcoming elections, where such measures are often employed to garner public support.