A fight erupted among SDSM party members and officials in the city of Delcevo, reports the Netpress news site.

According to the report, the incident occurred in a bar owned by a powerful local official of the party, identified by his initials V.V. He was attacked by a local party activist identified by the news site as D.P., who was reportedly angry that he didn’t get the promised public sector job. In the fight that ensued. D.P. punched V.V. in the face, breaking his nose and inflicting other serious injuries, after which he fled.

Netpress reports that the attacker has good links to local police and that officers but also the victim are being pressured to cover up the incident. As elections draw near, the ruling parties are busily distributing jobs and other perks to activists, in order to ensure their vote.