Is there a 'surplus' in the city budget? 'Belgrade facing financial collapse, Šapić a guest in his own city'

Belgrade stands on the brink of financial collapse, according to an opposition councilor who has sharply criticized Mayor Aleksandar Šapić's signature policy of free public transportation. Iva Stojković, a councilor in the Belgrade Assembly, labeled the free transport initiative as mere "demagoguery" and a "creation of Aleksandar Šapić."

Stojković further accused the mayor of being a "guest in his own city," suggesting a disconnect between Šapić and the pressing financial realities facing the capital. This assertion implies that the mayor is not fully engaged with or aware of the city's critical economic situation, prioritizing populist measures over fiscal responsibility.

The controversy arises amidst claims of a surplus in the city's budget, a situation that Stojković implies is misleading or masks deeper financial instability. The councilor's statements paint a picture of fiscal mismanagement, where popular but potentially unsustainable policies are being pursued while the city's financial foundations are allegedly crumbling. The debate highlights a significant political divide over the city's economic direction and the effectiveness of its current leadership.