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Socialist councilors quit, citing 'violent and uneducated' progressives
🇷🇸 Serbia /Elections & Politics

Socialist councilors quit, citing 'violent and uneducated' progressives

From N1 Serbia · () Serbian

Translated from Serbian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Two local councilors from Serbia's Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) in Knić have resigned from their positions.
  • They cited their unwillingness to cooperate with the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), describing SNS members as "violent and uneducated."
  • SPS official Branko Ružić expressed concern over a "lack of self-respect" within the party, extending beyond local branches to its leadership.

Two Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) councilors in the municipality of Knić have resigned, citing their refusal to work with the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS). The councilors described the SNS in Knić as a "violent group of uneducated people" with whom they do not wish to cooperate now or in the future.

The current processes in Knić I can only assess through the prism of a general lack of self-respect, abandonment of original principles, and masochism that are present in no small number of local self-governments, but it is even more alarming that such tendencies exist in the very top of the SPS.

— Branko RužićCommenting on the resignations and the political situation in Knić.

One of the former councilors, Bojan Starčević, who was elected in early August 2026, initially accepted his position but quickly resigned. He apologized for being a "complicit" member for the past ten years, providing a majority for decisions that he felt primarily served the SNS. Starčević affirmed his continued loyalty to the SPS but stated he could no longer serve as a councilor due to the "social circumstances the country has fallen into."

SNS in Knić is a violent group of uneducated people with whom we do not want to cooperate now or ever again.

— Unnamed SPS CouncilorDescribing the ruling Serbian Progressive Party in Knić, as reported by Vreme portal.

Goran Matić, another SPS councilor, also recently left the SPS group to serve as an independent councilor for the same reasons. He noted that the party leadership had never mandated cooperation with the SNS, even when they were in a coalition. Matić indicated that after he refused, the party approached the next person on the list, who also declined, leaving the seats vacant.

I apologize for being a 'complicit' member for the past ten years, providing a majority for some decisions, and they, as he said, 'served the Serbian Progressive Party according to the hierarchy'.

— Bojan StarčevićExplaining his resignation as a councilor.

Branko Ružić, an SPS official reportedly close to this group of councilors, commented on the situation. He described the current events in Knić as reflecting a general "lack of self-respect, abandonment of original principles, and masochism" present in many local self-government units. Ružić found it even more alarming that such tendencies are also evident within the SPS leadership itself.

We never asked us to cooperate with the SNS, until now.

— Goran MatićStating that party leadership never mandated cooperation with the SNS.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by N1 Serbia in Serbian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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