The Duvan Čvarci festival, one of the most popular and original events in Serbia, will not be held in Valjevo this year after 20 years. The reason is the mutual termination of cooperation between the brand owner Slaven Batočanin and the local authorities, who decided to redirect nearly 4 million dinars allocated for the festival to the service of a personal assistant for children with disabilities or developmental disorders. Batočanin expressed dissatisfaction with the organization and cooperation with city officials and is considering holding the festival in Banja Vrujci. The local administration states that the reallocation of funds is motivated by the need to expand social services for children, and Valjevo is one of the few cities in Serbia that provides a personal assistant service for children with special needs.
Political Perspectives:
Left: Left-leaning reports emphasize the positive social impact of reallocating funds from the festival to support children with disabilities, highlighting the importance of social services and care for vulnerable groups. They may frame the decision as a progressive move prioritizing social welfare over entertainment.
Center: Center-leaning coverage tends to present a balanced view, reporting both the cultural loss of the festival in Valjevo and the rationale behind the local government’s decision to redirect funds to social services. They highlight the mutual agreement and the practical considerations involved.
Right: Right-leaning narratives focus on the cultural and economic loss due to the festival’s cancellation in Valjevo, expressing criticism towards the local authorities for deprioritizing a traditional and popular event. They may emphasize the importance of preserving local heritage and criticize bureaucratic decisions.