The Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) Presidency decided to nominate Aleksandar Sapic for Belgrade mayor, drawing criticism from the opposition and observers.

The decision was released by outgoing Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, herself a high-ranking SNS official, at a news conference after the meeting. The party presidency also decided not to keep Goran Vesic in the post of Deputy Mayor, replacing him with Vesna Vidovic. Brnabic said that Sapic was the only contender. Sapic, a former national waterpolo team player, headed the New Belgrade municipality for several years before merging his party into the SNS.

The Belgrade City Assembly is scheduled to meet on Monday, June 20 to decide on the nomination. The SNS and its allies hold a majority in the Assembly.

Opposition Don’t Let Belgrade D(r)own official Dobrica Veselinovic said that Sapic “is in gray zones at all levels”, adding that he is “not fit to be mayor”. “He kept quiet about destruction in the city, did nothing about construction without permits and the destruction of green areas,” he said. Veselinovic said that Sapic was in a conflict of interest because he can’t hold the post of head of New Belgrade municipality and occupy a seat on the Belgrade City Assembly.

Danas daily journalist Safeta Bisevac said that she does not expect Sapic to do anything good as mayor because “he will have to implement his party’s policies”. “The best thing for Sapic would be to use his term in office to tackle his New Belgrade municipality like he said during the election campaign,” she said recalling illegal construction in New Belgrade and problems with floating restaurants.

Nova S journalists Zeljko Veljkovic said that Sapic does not have the predisposition to be a good mayor, adding that he will use his position to push forward projects in his own interest or in the interest of the SNS.