Brief
Court overturned electoral commission rulings at p...
Background and process On 29 March 2026, local elections were held. At...
Note
On February 11, 2026, the RTS Board of Directors elected Manja Grčić as director general for a five-year term. The Journalists' Association of Serbia (UNS) subsequently published documentation from the Agency for Qualifications showing that Grčić's diploma carries 180, not the 240 ECTS credits required by law, raising questions about the legality of the appointment.
Manja Grčić's biography
Call for proposals
On October 24, 2025, a public competition was announced for the election of a new RTS director general. The incumbent director, Dragan Bujošević, reaches the end of his second five-year term in February 2026 and is ineligible for re-election. The application deadline was November 23, 2025, and the Board of Directors was required to appoint a new director by December 8, 2025. Seven candidates applied; three submissions were complete. None received the required two-thirds majority of the Board of Directors, so a new competition was announced. On January 22, 2026, five candidates with timely and complete applications were identified: Dejan Stanković, Slađana Ivančević, Miloš Tanasković, Manja Grčić, and Stanislav Veljković.
Note: Although Bujošević cannot be appointed director general for a full term, he may be appointed as acting director for up to one year (two six-month periods).
On November 28, 2025, it was reported that of the seven applicants, four submissions were incomplete (Predrag Tanasković, Bojana Janketić, Gordana Bralić Bingulac, and Nebojša Tonić), while three were complete - those of Branislav Klanšček, Stanislav Veljković, and Dejan Stanković Kralj. Interviews were conducted with all three, after which the Board voted. Of particular note: Branislav Klanšček - the candidate who received the most votes - is also the chairperson of the RTS Board of Directors. Stanislav Veljković spent most of his career in various positions at RTS. The third candidate, Dejan Stanković Kralj, is known to the public through his appearances on reality TV shows "Farma" and "Parovi." No candidate received the required majority, and a new public competition was announced. An integrity concern in the first round was the Board chairperson's participation as a candidate while still holding that position - as it is the Board that convenes sessions, conducts interviews with candidates, and votes on the appointment.
On December 15, 2025, a new public competition was announced. On January 22, 2026, the names of five candidates with complete and timely applications were published: Dejan Stanković, Slađana Ivančević, Miloš Tanasković, Manja Grčić, and Stanislav Veljković. On January 26, RTS announced a sixth candidate whose application was submitted by post - Dragoljub Stankić.
The most public controversy has surrounded the candidacy of Manja Grčić, currently director of the Tanjug news agency and co-owner of K1 television. Reports indicate she may not meet the legal eligibility requirements: the law requires 240 ECTS credits, while Grčić holds 180. The Board of Directors has not commented. According to the RTS website, Board members eligible to vote on the appointment are: chairperson Branislav Klanšček, deputy chairperson Miroslav Minja Nikolić, and members Milivoje Pavlović, Branko Radun, Ljiljana Đurđevac, Nenad Janković, Šćepan Praščević, Predrag Azdejković, and Filip Rodić.
Beyond the director general election, the new Law on Public Broadcasting Services provides that all Program Council members' mandates expire within six months of the law's entry into force - by December 25, 2025. No information is publicly available that a procedure has been initiated to elect new Program Council members, nor that any internal regulations governing that procedure have been drafted or adopted.
Note: Although Bujošević cannot be appointed director general for a full term, he may be appointed as acting director for up to one year (two six-month periods).
On November 28, 2025, it was reported that of the seven applicants, four submissions were incomplete (Predrag Tanasković, Bojana Janketić, Gordana Bralić Bingulac, and Nebojša Tonić), while three were complete - those of Branislav Klanšček, Stanislav Veljković, and Dejan Stanković Kralj. Interviews were conducted with all three, after which the Board voted. Of particular note: Branislav Klanšček - the candidate who received the most votes - is also the chairperson of the RTS Board of Directors. Stanislav Veljković spent most of his career in various positions at RTS. The third candidate, Dejan Stanković Kralj, is known to the public through his appearances on reality TV shows "Farma" and "Parovi." No candidate received the required majority, and a new public competition was announced. An integrity concern in the first round was the Board chairperson's participation as a candidate while still holding that position - as it is the Board that convenes sessions, conducts interviews with candidates, and votes on the appointment.
On December 15, 2025, a new public competition was announced. On January 22, 2026, the names of five candidates with complete and timely applications were published: Dejan Stanković, Slađana Ivančević, Miloš Tanasković, Manja Grčić, and Stanislav Veljković. On January 26, RTS announced a sixth candidate whose application was submitted by post - Dragoljub Stankić.
The most public controversy has surrounded the candidacy of Manja Grčić, currently director of the Tanjug news agency and co-owner of K1 television. Reports indicate she may not meet the legal eligibility requirements: the law requires 240 ECTS credits, while Grčić holds 180. The Board of Directors has not commented. According to the RTS website, Board members eligible to vote on the appointment are: chairperson Branislav Klanšček, deputy chairperson Miroslav Minja Nikolić, and members Milivoje Pavlović, Branko Radun, Ljiljana Đurđevac, Nenad Janković, Šćepan Praščević, Predrag Azdejković, and Filip Rodić.
Beyond the director general election, the new Law on Public Broadcasting Services provides that all Program Council members' mandates expire within six months of the law's entry into force - by December 25, 2025. No information is publicly available that a procedure has been initiated to elect new Program Council members, nor that any internal regulations governing that procedure have been drafted or adopted.
Selection procedure
Under the Law on Public Broadcasting Services and the Rulebook on the Procedure and Conditions for the Election of Appointed Officials, the Board of Directors must announce a public competition no later than three months before the incumbent director general's term expires. The competition is open for 30 days from the date of publication in the Official Gazette or a daily newspaper.
After the application deadline, the Board must convene a public session to review submitted applications - determining whether they are timely, complete, and whether candidates meet the legal eligibility requirements. The session may only be held if at least half of all Board members are present. The Board may also form an Application Review Committee.
After establishing candidates' eligibility, a public interview is held with candidates at one or more sessions, which must be attended by at least two-thirds of Board members. Each candidate has up to 10 minutes to present their development program for RTS (broken down by year of the term), after which Board members may ask questions for up to 20 minutes.
Following the interviews, the Board of Directors adopts a reasoned decision on the appointment of the director general by a two-thirds majority of all members at a closed session.
Where more than five candidates meet the formal requirements, a shortlisting round precedes the election, based on a scoring system:
After the application deadline, the Board must convene a public session to review submitted applications - determining whether they are timely, complete, and whether candidates meet the legal eligibility requirements. The session may only be held if at least half of all Board members are present. The Board may also form an Application Review Committee.
After establishing candidates' eligibility, a public interview is held with candidates at one or more sessions, which must be attended by at least two-thirds of Board members. Each candidate has up to 10 minutes to present their development program for RTS (broken down by year of the term), after which Board members may ask questions for up to 20 minutes.
Following the interviews, the Board of Directors adopts a reasoned decision on the appointment of the director general by a two-thirds majority of all members at a closed session.
Where more than five candidates meet the formal requirements, a shortlisting round precedes the election, based on a scoring system:
In regular circumstances, where five or fewer eligible candidates apply, no shortlist is formed. After interviews, the Board proceeds directly to a vote. The candidate who receives a two-thirds majority of all Board members is appointed director general.
However, neither the Law nor the Rulebook defines the voting method or order when no shortlist exists - a legal gap. It is also unclear whether the "for/against" voting principle applies in regular circumstances. If it does, it is unspecified what happens when more than one candidate receives a two-thirds majority. Finally, it is not specified whether second and third voting rounds apply in "regular" circumstances if no candidate receives the required majority, though the same provisions used when a shortlist exists could reasonably be applied.
However, neither the Law nor the Rulebook defines the voting method or order when no shortlist exists - a legal gap. It is also unclear whether the "for/against" voting principle applies in regular circumstances. If it does, it is unspecified what happens when more than one candidate receives a two-thirds majority. Finally, it is not specified whether second and third voting rounds apply in "regular" circumstances if no candidate receives the required majority, though the same provisions used when a shortlist exists could reasonably be applied.
Process overview
| Phase | Legal deadline | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Announcement of public competition | 3 months before the incumbent director general's term expires | October 24, 2025 December 15, 2025 |
| Duration of public competition | 30 days from publication in the Official Gazette or a daily newspaper | November 23, 2025 |
| Board of Directors session to review applications | Within 7 days of the application deadline | November 30, 2025 January 22, 2026 |
| Interviews with candidates (program presentation) | After eligibility is confirmed, at a separate session | - |
| Shortlisting - scoring round | Only if more than 5 applicants meet the eligibility requirements | / |
| Decision on appointment of director general (vote) | Immediately after interviews, at a closed session | December 15, 2025 |
| Entire process from announcement | Within 45 days of opening applications | December 15, 2025 (deadline was December 8, 2025) |
Acting Director General
The Law provides that if the director general's term ends through death, resignation, or removal, the Board of Directors shall immediately appoint an acting director from among the employees, without a public competition. An acting director should not be appointed when the director's term simply expires - in that case, the selection of a new director general must be completed before the previous term ends. However, an acting director may be appointed when no director general is elected within the deadline - that is, when no candidate receives the required majority across multiple rounds.
The decision to appoint an acting director is adopted by a two-thirds majority of all Board members. Simultaneously, the Board must announce a competition for the election of a new director general.
An acting director may hold the position for a maximum of six months. If no new director general is elected within that period, the same person may be appointed again - once more, for a total of two appointments.
A person appointed as acting director must meet all the eligibility requirements for director general and holds all the same obligations and responsibilities.
The decision to appoint an acting director is adopted by a two-thirds majority of all Board members. Simultaneously, the Board must announce a competition for the election of a new director general.
An acting director may hold the position for a maximum of six months. If no new director general is elected within that period, the same person may be appointed again - once more, for a total of two appointments.
A person appointed as acting director must meet all the eligibility requirements for director general and holds all the same obligations and responsibilities.
Eligibility Requirements
To be elected director general, a candidate must:
When applying, candidates must submit proof of eligibility and a proposed work and management program for the duration of the term.
Term of Office
The director general's term lasts five years. The same person may be elected a maximum of two times. The mandate ends upon expiry, resignation, removal on grounds provided by law, or death.
