Why 15% of Serbians Believe President Vučić Has an Albanian Father: The Rumor, the Facts, and the Balkan Context

Vučić from the right and Fahri Musliu from the left of the screen (montage)

 In a recent interview, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić made one of his most unusual statements yet: according to him, around 15% of Serbian citizens genuinely believe that his father is Albanian.

This claim immediately revived an old rumor — the theory that his biological father is actually the well-known Albanian journalist from Kosovo, Fahri Musliu.

Vučić from the left and Fahri Musliu from the right

But where did this story start, why does it persist, and what do credible sources say? Below is a full analysis, especially relevant for Albanian readers who closely follow dynamics between Serbia, Kosovo, and the wider region.

The 15% Claim: Vučić’s Own Words

Vučić stated:
“Do you know that 15% of people in Serbia truly believe that my father is Albanian? Some really believe it because they don’t read foreign platforms or talk to others.”
When asked whether this number was based on research or data, he replied that it was his assessment based on information he had seen.

The president did not deny that the rumor exists — in fact, he acknowledged how widespread it has become in Serbian society.

Where the Rumor Started: The Fahri Musliu Story

The theory claims that Vučić’s real father is Fahri Musliu, an Albanian journalist from Kosovo who worked for years in Belgrade.
The rumor grew because:

• Musliu and Vučić’s mother Angelina once worked in the same newsroom

• Certain Serbian tabloids and political groups used the story during elections

• Nationalist narratives in Serbia tend to weaponize ethnicity

Musliu himself has publicly denied the rumor many times. He has said that he only had a professional relationship with Vučić’s mother and that the whole story was invented for political manipulation.

He even stated that the accusations have caused him “a decade of stress” and have resurfaced every time Serbia enters a tense political period.

Vučić Responds Publicly: “My Father Is Anđelko”

To counter the conspiracy, Vučić released a public video in 2023 standing next to his actual father, Anđelko Vučić, saying:

“My father is Anđelko, not Fahri Musliu. I am proud of my parents.”

He accused political opponents and tabloids of reviving the story during election campaigns in order to damage his image.

His father Anđelko’s background is well-documented: the family originates from Čipuljić near Bugojno in Bosnia, not from Kosovo or Albania.

Why Do 15% of Serbians Believe It?

Several factors may explain why such a high number find the rumor believable:

1. Serbia’s Media Landscape

A significant portion of Serbian society consumes tabloid media, where conspiracy narratives thrive.

2. Ethno-political Tensions

Ethnicity is deeply political in Serbia.
The idea that the president may have Albanian roots — considered a “national enemy” by some — becomes sensational.

3. Social Media Echo Chambers

Rumors, once planted, circulate endlessly on forums, Telegram channels, and nationalist pages.

4. Political Exploitation

Analysts say certain groups deliberately revived the rumor during elections to undermine Vučić’s nationalist credibility.