Tourist Organization of Niš accused of misusing public funds at SNS rally in Belgrade

At a Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) rally in Belgrade, a stand of the publicly funded Tourist Organization of Niš (TON) and a banner from the municipality of Blace were displayed. Opposition MP Jelena Milošević of the Freedom and Justice Party asked for an explanation, asking whether the organization’s staff were acting as private individuals or as representatives of the public agency and whether travel expenses and daily allowances were covered by the municipal budget.

The City Board of the National Movement of Serbia (NPS) issued a statement saying that using a publicly financed institution for political promotion “blurs the line between public interest and party activity” and is unacceptable unless participants act as private citizens. The board emphasized that TON’s legal and social role is to promote tourism in Niš, not to serve as marketing for a political party.