BELGRADE, Serbia — Apple Inc. co-founder Steve Wozniak will be receiving a Serbian passport, according to Serbia’s president on Wednesday.
The affable Wozniak, who co-founded Apple with the late Steve Jobs in 1976, arrived in Serbia ahead of the parliamentary and local elections on December 17th, providing a boost for President Aleksandar Vučić and his populist right-wing governing party.
Wozniak expressed his appreciation for being in Serbia and stated that he and his wife Janet, who will also receive a passport, will now “promote” Serbia. He mentioned that he will become a Serb living in the U.S.
Vučić stated at a joint news conference in Belgrade that it is an honor for Serbia to grant passports to Wozniak and his wife.
“Now we can proudly say that a computer genius is a Serb,” said Vučić.
Wozniak’s visit, which was announced on Tuesday, was met with disapproval from opposition parties who accused the government or ruling party of paying Wozniak for PR appearances.
“No one paid him to come to Serbia, to be completely clear,” said Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabić.
Wozniak mentioned that he was invited to visit by former top Serbian tennis player Janko Tipsarević, a prominent member of Vučić’s Serbian Progressive Party.
Wozniak, 73, suffered a mild stroke while attending a business conference in Mexico City in November.