THE GATEWAY PUNDIT | Published March 4, 2025
Things may get heated in Congress, but never do they fall apart like this.
Opposition lawmakers in Serbia threw smoke grenades and tear gas at fellow parliamentarians in a show of opposition to the government and to express their support for current student protests.
The demonstrations were a response to the collapse of a roof at a train station several months ago that killed 15 people and now threatens to bring down the country’s government.
The attack took place during a legislative session after the ruling coalition, led by the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), approved the parliamentary agenda.
As the agenda was approved, several opposition politicians rushed toward the parliamentary speaker, clashing with security guards.
Other individuals then threw smoke grenades and tear gas, covering the room in black and pink smoke.
Two people were injured by the attack, according to House Speaker Ana Brnabic, with one suffering a stroke and currently in critical condition.
“The parliament will continue to work and to defend Serbia,” she told the session.
Watch the clips below:
Ironically, the government’s agenda involved meeting some of the opposition’s demands.
This included passing a law increasing funding for universities and also noting the resignation of Prime Minister Milos Vucevic.
However, opposition lawmakers insisted the session was illegal and consequently chose to attack their colleagues.
Serbia is a parliamentary republic led by President Aleksandar Vučić and the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), which is said to have center-right and nationalist leanings.
While officially seeking EU membership, Serbia also maintains close ties with Russia and China, making its true geopolitical loyalties unclear.
Amid calls to step down, Vučić has accused foreign powers of using “hybrid tactics” to undermine his government, similar to what many globalists have tried to do in Hungary.
“I will expose in full detail how much money was paid over the last four years to destroy Serbia and make it a vassal state,” he said recently.
“They want Serbia to stop making its own decisions and instead serve foreign interests.”
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SOURCE: www.thegatewaypundit.com
RELATED: Serbia opposition members throw smoke bombs, flares inside parliament
At least two lawmakers injured after chaos erupts inside parliament, where smoke bombs and flares were thrown.
This screengrab from handout video released by the Serbian government shows opposition lawmakers lighting flares and discharging suspected smoke bombs inside parliament [Handout/National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia/AFP]
AL JAZEERA | Published March 4, 2025
Serbian opposition lawmakers have thrown smoke grenades and tear gas inside parliament to protest against the government and support demonstrating students, with one legislator suffering a stroke during the chaos.
As the spring session of parliament opened on Tuesday, after the ruling coalition led by the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) approved the agenda, some opposition politicians ran out of their seats towards the parliamentary speaker and scuffled with security guards.
Others tossed smoke grenades and tear gas, with live TV showing black and pink smoke inside the parliament, which has also witnessed brawls and throwing of water in the decades since the introduction of multiparty democracy in 1990.
Speaker Ana Brnabic said two lawmakers were injured, with one, Jasmina Obradovic of the SNS party, suffering a stroke and in critical condition. “The parliament will continue to work and to defend Serbia,” she told the session.
As the session continued, governing coalition politicians debated while opposition lawmakers whistled and blew horns.
Four months of student-led demonstrations have drawn in teachers, farmers and others to become the biggest threat yet to President Aleksandar Vucic’s decade-long rule, with many Serbians denouncing corruption and incompetence in government.
Inside the parliament, opposition members also held signs reading “General strike,” and “Justice for the killed”, while outside the building, protesters stood in silence to honour 15 people killed by a railway station roof collapse that was the spark for the protest movement.
Protest leaders have called for a major rally in the capital Belgrade on March 15 over the collapse of the station roof in Novi Sad in November despite extensive renovations to the building. The incident ignited long-simmering anger in the country over corruption and the alleged lack of oversight for construction and development projects.
On Tuesday, the parliament was due to adopt a law increasing funds for universities – one of the main demands of students blocking faculties since December. A discussion on the resignation of Prime Minister Milos Vucevic was also scheduled.
But other items put on the agenda by the governing coalition angered the opposition, triggering chaos.
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SOURCE: www.aljazeera.com
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