Aleksandar Vučić kissed a woman who fainted at a Bačka Palanka rally — video sparks reactions
Vučić stopped his speech to assist an attendee who fainted; the clip and his caption prompted questions about appropriateness and PR.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić published a video from a pre-election rally in Bačka Palanka that shows an elderly woman fainting during his speech. Vučić interrupted his remarks and went to her side while medical staff administered first aid.
Video prompts debate over propriety and PR
In the clip Vučić approaches the woman, leans down and takes her hand. As medics prepared her for transport she kissed Vučić, and he returned the kiss. The footage quickly drew online reactions, with many users questioning whether recording and posting such a moment was appropriate or was being used for publicity.
Vučić accompanied the video with a message about the incident. "When that lovely lady fainted at the rally, excellent doctors from Bačka Palanka immediately rushed to help her, and I was overjoyed when I realised that everything would be fine. And when she kissed me, my happiness knew no bounds," Vučić wrote alongside the video.
Authorities at the rally attended to the woman and prepared her for transfer to a medical facility. The short post and the exchange captured on camera have since generated a broad mix of support and criticism on social media.
The episode adds to ongoing scrutiny of public displays by political leaders during campaign events and the use of social platforms to share brief, personal encounters with voters.
Photo: Oliver Bunic / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)
