Novi Sad Planning Commission Halts Meeting Over Recusal Request Amid Protests

A planning commission meeting in Novi Sad, Serbia, was abruptly halted for ten minutes after a lawyer filed a request for the commission's recusal. Lawyer Srđan Kovačević argued that one member, identified as Radonja Dabetić, is in a conflict of interest due to his work for companies involved in the "Novi Sad na vodi" (New Novi Sad on Water) project. Kovačević stated that Dabetić has worked for "Neimar" and "Aleksandar gradnja," entities linked to the project's financing through "Matijević" and "Aleksandar gradnja." He claimed the commission, and particularly its president Dabetić, should have recused themselves ex officio but failed to do so, thus acting with bias. Kovačević asserted that the commission cannot proceed and that the City Assembly, which appointed the commission, must decide on the recusal request. Despite the commission deeming the request valid, it initially continued the session, stating the Assembly would decide on any suspension. This led to protests from citizens, activists, and council members who created noise to disrupt the proceedings. The commission eventually called a ten-minute break. The article notes that the commission was surrounded by security and that dozens of people had gathered outside and inside the assembly building to voice their objections. Writer Nebojša Milenković reported that over 6,500 amendments were submitted regarding the "Novi Sad na vodi" project.

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Dabetić, and the other members of the commission, primarily Dabetić, worked for both 'Neimar' and 'Aleksandar gradnja' and is in a direct conflict of interest for him to even consider this draft plan.