Tension in Serbia Parliament: MPs Injured

Belgrade: On Tuesday, chaos erupted in the Serbia Parliament when smoke bombs were thrown during a session. Three members of Parliament were injured, one of whom was seriously hurt. The session was supposed to vote on a bill aimed at increasing funding for university education. Opposition parties, arguing that the session was illegal, demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Miloš Vučević's government. An hour after the session began, chaos broke out in Parliament, with opposition members waving banners that read "Serbia is growing, governance is weakening" and shouting slogans while blowing whistles.

The situation escalated as MPs began clashing, and videos showed smoke bombs being thrown. Eggs and water bottles were also hurled at each other. Authorities confirmed that three individuals were injured in the riots. Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabić condemned the opposition, accusing them of behaving like extremists. The incident revealed the political crisis gripping the country, with the government under pressure due to months of anti-corruption protests. As protests intensified, Prime Minister Vučević resigned in January, although Parliament still needs to approve his resignation.

In November, a roof collapse at a railway station in Novi Sad, Serbia, resulted in 15 deaths, which sparked a student-led anti-corruption movement. The movement gained widespread support from intellectuals, judges, farmers, lawyers, and actors. As the protests intensified, Prime Minister Miloš Vučević resigned recently, and now, Parliament must decide within 30 days whether to approve his resignation and form a new government or call for mid-term elections. However, the process in Parliament has not yet begun. Meanwhile, discussions were held in Parliament regarding a bill to increase funding for university education, leading to severe chaos between government and opposition members during the vote.

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