As the discussion continues on the hate speech that occured in the Parliament of Serbia, today when I turned on my PC to read the news, a very sad thing has shocked me. The mayor of Belgrade, mr. Nenad Bogdanovic, has died after a long illness.
I think that for all of us that are proud Belgraders this death comes as a shock. He has been a highly democratic and modern politician and mayor who had great intentions and a vision of Belgrade, a city that deserves the title to be the capital of southeastern Europe.
For me who comes three times a year to his hometown, the changes as a reflection of mr. Bogdanovic’s deeds are more than visible with every visit. Thus, as local patriot, I use this opportunity to thank him for everything he has done for my town.
An Online book of condolences has been opened at the official site of city of Belgrade.
May he rest in peace
Нек му је вечна слава
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It is a sad news indeed, for Democratic party, Belgrade citizens, his family and friends.
The mayor coming to replace him will have a very tough job of maintaining the same level of job commitment and effectiveness Bogdanovic achieved and set as a standard. May he rest in peace, he has done a lot for the city.
For me he has been an a person that worked first at his post for which he was elected and then a politician. Actually, he was one of the few politicians that I really liked since he was a realist and not a populist. He deserves all the honours that a great man deserves since he transformed Belgrade into a real metrople.
It probably seems a bit harsh to say it at this moment in time but I never really liked him much. And I have it on good authority that some of the goings on within his office were not exactly by the book either – by the admission of a senior employee.
On the other hand as Cvijus said he rose above the name calling and immaturity of Serbian politics and never pandered to populism. And he has been active there is no question of that.
Still, I’m saddened by his sudden death and also a little curious as to why its ok to show pictures of dead people in Serbian newspapers or on tv but apparantly we arent allowed to know what illness he died of.
Dont mean that to sound spiteful but just wondering – I’d prefer not to have to read the gutter press to find out.
I don’t recall where I read this, but it was one of the regular news sites: lymphoma.
Hey there bganon, it’s the Balkan anarchist here.
Gosh, the late Nenad Bogdanovic was not that old. Let’s hope the next mayor of Belgrade, his successor, will be just as good for the city as he was, and like we say, Laka mu je crna zemlja.