“Absolute low in Belgrade’s political history”: Srbija centar condemns Šapić’s attack on councillor

The Srbija centar (SRCE) party has condemned Belgrade mayor Aleksandar Šapić’s attack on Kreni-promeni councillor Tanja Mićić, calling it the “absolute low in the history of Belgrade politics”, as the Danas daily reports.

The incident happened on the evening of September 28 in New Belgrade, where Šapić, according to the councillor’s testimony, struck her in the nose, breaking it. Police took the mayor to the station, while he claimed he had only “pushed” her. Serbian media have covered the event with video and new testimony.

Earlier in the day, opposition parties demanded Šapić’s resignation, calling him “unworthy of the office”, while Kreni-promeni leader Savo Manojlović called on citizens to protest in front of the Prosecutor’s Office in New Belgrade. The SRCE statement — the party of Zdravko Ponoš — is the latest in a chain of reactions deepening the crisis around the mayor.

The incident comes amid the campaign for the October 25 parliamentary elections, in which SRCE is running as part of the “European Serbia” coalition, and is expected to raise political tensions in the capital.