Ana Brnabić, Speaker of the National Assembly and Vice President of the main board of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), condemned the shooting at SNS offices in Vrnjačka Banja as the final act of blockade terror witnessed over the past seven months. She emphasized that the hatred sown by the blockaders, supported by parts of the media, led to this violent act. Brnabić criticized the lack of adequate response from the authorities and called for a determined fight against fascist ideology and violence against people with different views. This event is portrayed as part of a broader issue of political intolerance and violence in Serbia.
Political Perspectives:
Left: Left-leaning outlets tend to emphasize the political violence as a symptom of rising authoritarianism and the suppression of dissent in Serbia. They may highlight the role of the government and ruling party in escalating tensions and criticize the lack of institutional response to blockades and protests. The narrative often focuses on the need for protecting democratic freedoms and condemning any form of political intimidation.
Center: Centrist sources report the incident as a serious security concern and condemn the violence without heavily politicizing the event. They present statements from government officials like Ana Brnabić and focus on the facts of the shooting and the broader context of ongoing protests and blockades. The coverage tends to call for calm, law enforcement action, and dialogue between political factions.
Right: Right-leaning media emphasize the shooting as an attack on the ruling Serbian Progressive Party and frame it as a consequence of lawlessness and the failure of the opposition and protestors to respect democratic norms. They often portray the blockaders as violent extremists and stress the need for a strong government response to restore order and protect party members. The narrative supports the ruling party’s stance against what they call ‘blockader terror’ and condemns media that allegedly sympathize with protestors.