Serbian defence minister fired for sexist remark against female journalist

Belgrade: Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic on Monday announced  he is firing the defence minister after he made a sexist remark to a female journalist.

Vucic said that Bratislav Gasic "can no longer be the minister of defense."

Gasic sparked outrage after a journalist from B92 Television knelt down in front of him to avoid being in the way of cameras as he spoke to a group of reporters during a visit to a factory on Sunday. He commented: "I like these female journalists who kneel down so easily."

"I think we have to protect all women in Serbia," Vucic said. "There is no excuse or apology that can justify what Bratislav Gasic has done."

Opposition parties and journalists' groups in Serbia earlier had called for the ouster. The left-leaning Democratic Party described Gasic's remarks as "bullying, sexism and verbal violence."

The country's equality watchdog also said the comments were "inadmissible and insulting."

Gasic has publicly apologized to the journalist, saying he "sincerely regretted" what he said.

Vucic responded that "it is good that he has apologized and that he regrets what he has done, but that is not enough." He added that the formal replacement will take place in the coming days after "technical details" are worked out.

Gasic, a 48-year-old previously unknown businessman from southwestern Serbia, is one of Vucic's closest allies and a vice-president of his right-wing Serbian Progressive Party.

The opposition in the past has demanded Gasic's ouster many times over several reported scandals, but Vucic had previously refused to let him go.