Not even the entire session of the local Assembly in Knić a socialist Bojan Starčević did not last in the position of councilor. When he was elected as a councilor at the beginning of August 2026, he first accepted this position, but then immediately submitted his resignation. The reason is cooperation with progressives.
He apologized for being an "accomplice" for all these ten years, providing the majority for making some decisions, and they, as he said, "hierarchically served the Serbian Progressive Party."
Starčević explained that he is still a socialist, but that "due to the social circumstances in which the state has fallen" he will no longer be a member of the Knić Assembly.
They never asked us to cooperate with SNS, until now
Socialist Goran Marić also says that for the same reason he recently resigned from the SPS councilor group and now works as an independent councilor. He comments on the causes of this change for "Vreme".
"Until now, the top of the party has never asked us to cooperate with SNS, even though we were in a coalition. This time it happened, so I immediately stepped down. Now Bojan Starčević has done the same," Marić told "Vreme". "The party then contacted the next person on the list, and he also refused, so there were vacancies."
Jovanka Nikolić, chief and responsible editor of the independent portal from Kragujevac The voice of Sumadija, tells "Vreme" that this group of socialists is close to Branko Ružić, who has been involved in student protests since showed a certain deviation towards the regime.
Ružić for "Vreme": "Renunciation of original principles and masochism"
Branko Ružić says for "Vreme" that "he was already familiar with the problem of local cooperation in that small municipality in the Šumadija district".
"In general, dissatisfaction with the relationship between the SNS and the SPS existed even during the time when the SPS president was Dragana Jovanović, who unfortunately passed away in the meantime," Ružić told Vreme. "I can only evaluate the current processes in Knić through the prism of a general lack of self-respect, renunciation of original principles and masochism that are present in not a small number of local self-governments, but it is even more alarming that such tendencies exist at the very top of the SPS."
However, he adds that "there are bright examples in coalition relations like Kragujevac" and "he sincerely hopes that this problem in Knic will also be resolved with the support of the current speaker of the Kragujevac parliament, Ivica Momčilović."
Local charkas or higher politics: Are they Ružić's?
For Matić, the reasons for the split are mostly of a local nature, because, he says, the progressives have "behaved horribly" towards them, as well as the citizens of Knić since 2016.
"SNS in Knić is a violent group of uneducated people, we don't want to work with them now or ever," adds Matić.
In a guest appearance on Nova's morning program, when asked if he expects changes within the SPS and the strengthening of the current gathered around Branko Ružić, he said the following:
"We hope so. And we will see if it will be. We expect Branko Ružić to come out with a clear position. He would certainly have more support."
Matić further explains this statement for "Vreme":
"I hope that the SPS will be freed from the clutches of the progressives. As for Branko Ružić, I am afraid that his speeches will not end with just words."
Only in August: Save three thousand dinars on the annual subscription to the digital edition of "Vremena"! _Take advantage of the discount here and support independent journalism.
