Spectacular own goal

Political commentator Boško Jakšić has sharply criticized Zdravko Ponoš, leader of the Serbia Center (SRCE) party, and his associate Dragan Đilas, accusing them of being driven by ego and failing to effectively challenge the ruling coalition. Jakšić frames their political maneuvering as a self-serving endeavor, suggesting they are more concerned with their own perceived status than with genuine political change.

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If Mr. Ponoš and his partner in the anti-student Resistance Front, Mr. Đilas, fell from the heights of their egos, they would seriously get hurt.

Jakšić dismisses Ponoš's attempts to engage in intellectual debate, particularly his use of foreign languages and what Jakšić deems as inappropriate terminology. He criticizes Ponoš for resorting to personal insults and for a perceived lack of political tolerance and ethics, stating that Ponoš's own platform of pro-European democratic values is undermined by his aggressive rhetoric. Jakšić likens Ponoš's approach to a "spectacular own goal," suggesting his actions are counterproductive.

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You called me 'umarellom,' which is a well-intentioned description of an idle older observer in Bolognese dialect. In your performance, or rather, in the performance of someone who gave you this word, the description is quite malicious.

The commentary stems from a dispute initiated by Jakšić's article defending the Students' List and criticizing the alliance between Ponoš's SRCE party and Đilas's Party of Freedom and Justice (SSP). Ponoš reportedly took offense to Jakšić's description of him as being "out of Đilas's pocket," leading to a heated exchange on social media and television.

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General, your speech is not according to the rules. The words you use against an opinion are in no way in line with your platform of pro-European democratic values. Political tolerance does not exist. Ethics is equal to 0 (zero in words).

Jakšić concludes by noting that Ponoš's "arrogance and collection of personal insults" forced him into a public debate. He implies that Ponoš, despite his ambitions, is objectively hindering the changes he claims to desire, pointing to students distancing themselves from him as evidence. The piece suggests a deep rift and personal animosity within the Serbian opposition.

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Your arrogance, haughtiness, and collection of personal insults forced me to play a simultaneous game after the discussion with Mr. Đilas.