Serbia: International diplomacy chief gets harsh lesson in railway station meeting snub

Novi Sad mayor snub triggers fallout as Vucic ally calls for replacement of veteran official

Vucic’s Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) member, Milos Vucevic, urges changes at foreign ministry after snub in Novi Sad

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic's chief diplomat was given a lesson in the perils of railway station politics on a recent trip to the northern city of Novi Sad, when the mayor of the city refused to meet him, sparking calls within Vucic's own party for his replacement.

Foreign Minister Nikola Selakovic, a veteran diplomat who previously served as Serbia's ambassador to Russia, was in Novi Sad on Friday to attend the opening of a new railway station, but his plans were thrown into disarray when the city's mayor, Milos Vucevic, a member of Vucic's Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), refused to meet him.

Vucevic, who is also the leader of the SNS in Novi Sad, said he was boycotting the meeting because he was angry at the government's failure to provide adequate funding for the city.

His snub has sparked outrage among some SNS members, including Milos Vucevic, a member of the SNS Main Board, who has called for Selakovic to be replaced.

"It is unacceptable for a member of the SNS to boycott a meeting with the foreign minister," Vucevic said in a statement. "This is a serious breach of party discipline and I demand that the party leadership take appropriate action."

The Serbian Progressive Party is the largest party in the Serbian parliament and has been in power since 2012. Vucic, who is also the leader of the SNS, has been president of Serbia since 2017.

The snub by Vucevic is a sign of growing discontent within the SNS, which has been plagued by internal divisions in recent months. The party is facing a challenge from a new opposition movement led by former prime minister Zoran Djindjic, who is vowing to bring down Vucic's government.

It remains to be seen whether Vucic will take action against Selakovic, but the snub by Vucevic is a clear sign that the president's grip on power is weakening.