Who Is Boris Tadić

Boris Tadić (born in Sarajevo on 15 January 1958) is a Serbian politician and psychologist who served as President of Serbia from 2004 to 2012. In that role he oversaw the dissolution of the state union of Serbia and Montenegro in 2006, and from 2004 to 2012 he also led the Democratic Party (DS).

He is the son of the philosopher Ljubomir Tadić and the psychologist Nevenka Tadić. He grew up in an intellectual family, studied psychology, and became politically active as a student, at a time when the opposition in Yugoslavia faced pressure and arrests. After the fall of Slobodan Milošević in 2000, he became Minister of Telecommunications and later Minister of Defence of Serbia and Montenegro.

His terms in office are remembered for bringing Serbia closer to the European Union, but also for the challenges of Kosovo and the global economic crisis. Since 2014 he has led the Social Democratic Party (SDS).

Origins and Childhood

Boris Tadić was born on 15 January 1958 in Sarajevo, then the capital of the People’s Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, part of the Federal People’s Republic of Yugoslavia. His father, Ljubomir, was a philosopher and a member of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, and his mother, Nevenka, was a psychologist. The Tadić family descends from the Piva clan in Old Herzegovina, and its slava (patron saint) is Saint John the Baptist.

His parents returned to Sarajevo from Paris, where they had pursued their doctoral studies, only a few days before he was born. When Boris was three, the family moved to Belgrade, where his father found work at the newspaper Oslobođenje. His older sister, Vjera, born in 1952, is also a psychologist.

The family’s history was marked by wartime suffering. His maternal grandfather, Strahinja Kićanović, a wealthy tradesman and landowner, was killed during the Second World War at the Jadovno camp. Tadić has spoken about this publicly on several occasions. His father, Ljubomir, was associated with the dissident Praxis group, and in 1975 he was removed from the University of Belgrade Faculty of Philosophy along with seven other professors.

Education

Tadić completed elementary school at Pera Popović Aga, which is now called Mika Petrović Alas, in Belgrade. He then enrolled at the First Belgrade Gymnasium in Dorćol. As a teenager he played water polo for Partizan in Belgrade but had to stop because of injuries.

He graduated from the University of Belgrade Faculty of Philosophy with a degree in psychology. His specialisation was social psychology, within the department of clinical psychology. His student years were also marked by political activism, which is covered in the next section.

He later received an honorary doctorate from Dimitrie Cantemir Christian University in Romania in 2009. Until 2003 he also worked as a lecturer in political advertising at the Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade.

Early Career and Dissident Activism

Tadić took part in Yugoslav opposition activities while still a student. In July 1982 he was arrested for protesting the detention of a group of students who had opposed martial law in Poland and supported the Solidarity movement. He spent one month in penal labour at Padinska Skela. Together with his then wife, the journalist Veselinka Zastavniković, he took part in petitions and protests against human rights violations in the SFRY.

After university he worked as a journalist, a military clinical psychologist and a psychology teacher at the First Belgrade Gymnasium. According to some sources, he was also a researcher on projects at the Institute for Psychology. This gave him a professional background outside politics, which he would often emphasise later.

In 1990 he joined the newly founded Democratic Party. After the 1993 elections he became a member of the Serbian National Assembly and its Committee for Science and Technology (some sources give 1994, so the data differ). According to the weekly Vreme, in 1992 he became secretary of the Main Board and vice president of the party’s Executive Board, but in those years he gave very few interviews and mostly did organisational work.

He founded the Centre for the Development of Democracy and Political Skills, a non-governmental organisation for political and civic education, in the late 1990s (sources differ: 1997 or 1998).

After Milošević: Ministerial Roles

The Democratic Party was part of the Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS), the broad coalition of parties that helped bring down Slobodan Milošević in 2000. Tadić was elected deputy leader of the DS in February 2000 and again in October 2001. After the October changes he worked closely with Zoran Đinđić, the party leader.

From 4 November 2000 to 7 March 2003 he served as federal Minister of Telecommunications in the government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, in which Vojislav Koštunica was president of the state and Zoran Žižić and Dragiša Pešić served as prime ministers. Some sources say he held that post only until 2001, so the data differ.

After the assassination of Zoran Đinđić in March 2003, he became Minister of Defence of Serbia and Montenegro (17 March 2003 – 16 April 2004). As minister he launched military reforms, including aligning regulations with NATO standards and creating a rapid reaction force under civilian control. He also advocated sending Serbian soldiers on a mission in Afghanistan to improve relations with the Alliance.

Leader of the Democratic Party and the 2004 Election

Đinđić’s assassination left the Democratic Party without a leader. At a party convention in February 2004, Boris Tadić defeated Zoran Živković and became DS president. He was later re-elected unopposed in 2006 and 2010.

As the new party leader, he became its candidate in the presidential election. In the first round in June 2004 he won 27.37 per cent of the vote, or 853,584 votes. In the runoff on 27 June he defeated Tomislav Nikolić of the Serbian Radical Party with about 53 per cent. He was sworn in on 11 July 2004.

During the campaign he promised to set up a People’s Office of the President, which opened on 1 October 2004. Its first director was Dragan Đilas, later mayor of Belgrade.

First Term as President (2004–2008)

From the start, Tadić stressed cooperation and reconciliation among the countries of the former Yugoslavia, burdened by the wars of the 1990s. On 6 December 2004 he apologised in Bosnia and Herzegovina to all who suffered from crimes committed in the name of the Serbian people. In July 2005 he visited Srebrenica on the tenth anniversary of the massacre, becoming the first Serbian head of state or government to do so.

In 2007 he issued an apology to Croatia for all crimes committed in Serbia’s name during the war in Croatia. In the same year, on 6 September, together with Milorad Dodik and Vojislav Koštunica, he signed an agreement establishing the Council for Cooperation between Serbia and Republika Srpska. In late 2007 he said that Serbia did not support the break-up of Bosnia and Herzegovina and, as a guarantor of the Dayton Agreement, backed its territorial integrity.

A historic moment came in 2006, when Montenegro declared independence following a referendum. Tadić was the first foreign head of state to visit Montenegro after its independence. Serbia continued as an independent state, and Tadić attended the first raising of the Serbian flag outside United Nations headquarters in New York.

On 28 September 2005 he met Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican, the first such audience for a Serbian head of state. On 22 June 2007 he presided over the 1,000th meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in Belgrade.

Re-election in 2008 and the Kosovo Question

After the new Constitution of Serbia was adopted in a referendum in October 2006, early presidential elections were called for 20 January 2008. He ran under the slogan “For a strong and stable Serbia” and, in the second round, “Let’s win Europe together”. He advocated European integration while also defending Serbia’s territorial integrity and its sovereignty over Kosovo and Metohija.

In the first round he received 1,457,030 votes (35.39 per cent), and in the runoff on 3 February 2008 he defeated Tomislav Nikolić with 2,304,467 votes (50.31 per cent). He was sworn in on 15 February 2008. Two days later, on 17 February, the Assembly of Kosovo declared independence. Tadić called for an urgent response from the United Nations Security Council and stated that Serbia would never recognise Kosovo’s independence.

Russia supported the Serbian position. Dmitry Medvedev and Sergey Lavrov visited Belgrade on 25 February 2008, when an agreement on the South Stream gas pipeline was also signed. At the same time, Tadić did not follow Russia in recognising Abkhazia and South Ossetia, arguing that Serbia defends its own territorial integrity by invoking international law.

In the parliamentary elections of 11 May 2008, the “For a European Serbia – Boris Tadić” coalition won about 38 per cent of the vote. Tadić nominated Mirko Cvetković for prime minister on 27 June, and Cvetković was sworn in on 7 July 2008. The government was formed with the participation of the Socialist Party of Serbia, a former opponent of the DS.

European Integration and Cooperation with the Hague Tribunal

The Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the European Union was signed on 29 April 2008 in Luxembourg, with Tadić in attendance; on behalf of Serbia it was signed by Deputy Prime Minister Božidar Đelić. Tadić said he was ready to sign it, but not at the price of recognising Kosovo. Then Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica opposed the signing.

Serbia submitted its application for EU membership on 22 December 2009. Late in 2009 the EU also decided to lift visas for Serbian citizens travelling to the Schengen countries. A key condition set by Brussels was full cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague.

Ratko Mladić was arrested on 26 May 2011 in Lazarevo after sixteen years on the run, and Tadić announced it publicly, saying that all war criminals must face justice. Goran Hadžić, the last indictee still at large, was arrested in July 2011. Serbia received EU candidate status in early March 2012.

In his second term Tadić also sought a political understanding with the Socialist Party of Serbia. On 18 October 2008 he and Ivica Dačić signed a Declaration of Political Reconciliation, which provided for further European integration and negotiations on Kosovo based on Resolution 1244.

Resignation and the 2012 Elections

After protests organised by the Serbian Progressive Party in 2011, Tadić announced early elections for 2012. On 5 April 2012, a day after announcing his decision, he submitted his resignation as president, which allowed the presidential election to be held together with parliamentary elections scheduled for 6 May.

In the runoff on 20 May 2012 he lost to Tomislav Nikolić of the Serbian Progressive Party. According to CeSID, Nikolić won 49.7 per cent of the vote and Tadić 47 per cent. The result was seen as something of a surprise. Tadić was criticised, both inside and outside his party, for the move to call early elections without a clearly defined goal.

His departure ended a long period in power. The presidential duties temporarily passed to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Slavica Đukić Dejanović.

After the Presidency

Dragan Đilas replaced Tadić as DS leader on 25 November 2012, and Tadić became honorary president of the party. In early 2014, after an unsuccessful attempt to return to the party’s leadership, he left the Democratic Party. He then founded the New Democratic Party, which was renamed the Social Democratic Party (SDS) the same year. For the 2014 elections he formed a coalition with the League of Social Democrats of Vojvodina.

After the 2016 elections, Tadić stated that the SDS would not be part of a governing coalition around the Serbian Progressive Party. The SDS remained a parliamentary party until the 2020 elections, which it boycotted. In 2023 it took part in the “Good Morning Serbia” alliance. In 2025 Tadić said the SDS would support a student list in the event of snap elections.

Outside politics, Tadić is a Senior Network Member of the European Leadership Network. In October 2024 he was appointed an independent non-executive director of the Chinese company USPACE Technology Group, and he also became an ambassador of the International Telecommunication Union’s Green Digital Action initiative. He has also received death threats: in June 2021, after the verdict against Ratko Mladić, graffiti and stickers directed at him appeared in Belgrade and Banja Luka.

Criticism and Controversies

Tadić was the subject of criticism throughout his political career, and the sources present these as assessments by various actors rather than established facts. In 2011 the Anti-Corruption Council published a report concluding that the media in Serbia were under strong political pressure. The report also stated that marketing agencies owned by close associates of the Democratic Party held a significant share of the advertising market. Ljiljana Smajlović, the editor-in-chief of Politika, accused him several times of pressuring editorial policy.

The Declaration of Political Reconciliation with the Socialist Party was criticised by some of his government partners and by right-wing parties, and some critics felt it relativised the Milošević regime. Tadić later defended the reconciliation, arguing that Serbia needs consensus-building policies.

In 2012 a debate also arose over whether he was entitled to a third term, given that he had been elected for his first term under the previous constitution. In October 2009 he was fined 400 euros for toasting with champagne at a stadium after a World Cup qualifier, which was banned by regulations. Tadić took responsibility at the time.

Private Life

Boris Tadić was married to the journalist Veselinka Zastavniković from 1980 to 1996 (the SDS gives 1997, so the data differ). They met in the 1970s and took part in opposition activities together. The marriage was childless.

In 1997 he married Tatjana Rodić (Tadić), with whom he has two daughters, Maša and Vanja. The couple separated in 2019. Tadić is Orthodox Christian by religion.

Besides his native language, he speaks English and French, and according to some sources also Italian and German. He is 188 centimetres tall.

Interesting Facts

• As a teenager he played water polo for Partizan but had to stop because of injuries.
• He was the first Serbian head of state received by a pope, on 28 September 2005.
• On 1 December 2004 the presidential motorcade was involved in a traffic accident; a police investigation found no evidence of an assassination attempt.
• On 21 May 2009 a man carrying hand grenades entered the Presidency building, and negotiations lasted several hours and ended without casualties.
• He is active on X under the handle @BorisTadic58.
• During the 2008 campaign he answered ten citizens’ questions each week in video responses online.

Awards and Honours

During and after his terms in office, Boris Tadić received a number of international awards and decorations:

• The European Prize for Political Culture of the Hans Ringier Foundation (2007), the monetary part of which he donated to a maternity hospital near Gračanica.
• The Quadriga award, titled “The Courage of Perseverance” (2008), presented to him by Austrian President Heinz Fischer.
• The Golden Keys of the City of Madrid and an honorary doctorate from Dimitrie Cantemir Christian University (2009).
• The Steiger Award Europe of the Rhine-Ruhr (2010) and the Golden Medal of the Hellenic Parliament (2010).
• The North–South Prize of the Council of Europe (2011).
• The European Medal of Tolerance, awarded in 2012 together with Ivo Josipović; the Order of Republika Srpska and Azerbaijan’s Ilyas Afandiyev International Prize (2012).
• Medals of the Russian Federation from 2008 and 2010.

Legacy and Influence

Assessments of Tadić’s political legacy differ. Supporters point out that under his presidency Serbia signed the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, gained Schengen visa-free travel and EU candidate status, and met its obligations to the Hague Tribunal. They also point to his messages of reconciliation toward Serbia’s neighbours, his apologies in Bosnia and Croatia, and his visit to Srebrenica.

Critics, on the other hand, cite the low economic growth in the years after the global crisis, political pressure on the media, and the dispute over the coalition with the Socialists. Some of the public also criticised his policy on Kosovo. Encyclopaedic sources from Britain and Norway describe him as a liberal, pro-European politician who maintained good relations with Russia.

The questions of Serbia’s European path, relations with its neighbours and Kosovo have remained central to Serbian politics since he left office.

Biography – Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Boris Tadić?

Boris Tadić is a Serbian politician and psychologist, President of Serbia from 2004 to 2012 and longtime leader of the Democratic Party. Since 2014 he has led the Social Democratic Party.

When and where was Boris Tadić born?

He was born on 15 January 1958 in Sarajevo, then in the People’s Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, part of SFR Yugoslavia.

Whose son is Boris Tadić?

He is the son of the philosopher Ljubomir Tadić, a member of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, and the psychologist Nevenka Tadić. He has a sister, Vjera, who is also a psychologist.

How many years was Boris Tadić President of Serbia?

He held the office from 11 July 2004 to 5 April 2012, a little under eight years, when he resigned to trigger early elections.

Which ministerial posts did Boris Tadić hold?

He was federal Minister of Telecommunications of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (from November 2000 to March 2003) and Minister of Defence of Serbia and Montenegro (from March 2003 to April 2004).

What is Boris Tadić’s educational background?

He graduated in psychology from the University of Belgrade Faculty of Philosophy. He worked as a psychologist, journalist and psychology teacher, and received an honorary doctorate in 2009.

Why did Boris Tadić lose the 2012 election?

He lost the runoff to Tomislav Nikolić, who won 49.7 per cent of the vote to Tadić’s 47 per cent. Sources cite several possible causes, including economic conditions and the view that the move to call early elections was misjudged.

Which party does Boris Tadić lead today?

According to available sources, Boris Tadić is president of the Social Democratic Party (SDS), which he founded in 2014 after leaving the Democratic Party.

Who is Boris Tadić married to and how many children does he have?

He was married to Veselinka Zastavniković (until 1996 or 1997), with no children, and then to Tatjana Rodić, with whom he has two daughters, Maša and Vanja. The couple separated in 2019.

Conclusion

Boris Tadić remains one of the most influential figures in Serbian politics since 2000. A psychologist by training, he went from student activist and opposition figure to minister, leader of the Democratic Party and twice-elected President of Serbia. His terms are linked to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, visa liberalisation, and the arrests of Ratko Mladić and Goran Hadžić, but also to Kosovo’s declaration of independence and the global economic crisis. Assessments of his record remain divided, and he continues to act as leader of the Social Democratic Party.