Belgrade ruling parties change agenda for lucrative deals, ignore citizens, says ZLF

The Green-Left Front (ZLF) in Belgrade has accused the city's ruling coalition of prioritizing lucrative deals over citizens' needs. The party pointed to the sudden withdrawal of an item concerning a public-private partnership for an integrated security system from the City Assembly's agenda as evidence.

ZLF stated that the agenda can shift within hours when internal conflicts arise between the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) and the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) over profitable business opportunities. This rapid change contrasts sharply with the city authorities' months-long neglect of pressing citizen issues, according to the party.

Branislav Dimitrijević, head of the ZLF councilor group, questioned whether the withdrawal stemmed from a dispute over "dividing the spoils" or a message between ruling partners. He emphasized that when the interests of the ruling parties are threatened, the City Assembly acts swiftly. However, when citizens' needs are at stake, the authorities cite a lack of conditions, time, or possibility to address them.

Dimitrijević cited the case of Apoteke Beograd as a prime example. He noted that ZLF has been advocating for months for the City Assembly to resolve the dire situation of employees who have not received salaries for 15 months, lack health insurance, and work in substandard conditions without basic amenities like air conditioning or internet. "Today's session showed that the problem was never procedural," Dimitrijević asserted. "The only problems that are urgently resolved are those concerning the mutual interests of the ruling parties."

"Citizens of Belgrade are therefore justified in asking: if the agenda can change in a few hours when the authorities quarrel, why has there been no time for the workers of Apoteke Beograd for 15 months?" Dimitrijević questioned, highlighting the perceived disparity in the government's responsiveness.