In a dramatic and highly unusual display of dissent, opposition lawmakers in Serbia disrupted the opening day of the spring parliamentary session on Tuesday by setting off flares, discharging tear gas, and engaging in physical altercations. The protest was aimed at expressing solidarity with ongoing anti-corruption demonstrations that have gripped the country for months.
The chaos erupted after the ruling coalition, led by the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), approved the session’s agenda. Opposition lawmakers rushed toward parliamentary speaker Ana Brnabić, clashing with security guards in the process. The proposed agenda included a series of laws aimed at providing concessions to students and youth, as well as the formal acknowledgment of Prime Minister Miloš Vučević’s resignation, which would effectively dissolve his cabinet.
Opposition members vehemently opposed the agenda, arguing that it was illogical to pass laws proposed by a government whose prime minister had already resigned. The dispute escalated into a brief physical confrontation, during which Brnabić was drenched with water.
Injuries and Accusations Amid Escalating Tensions
Following the incident, Brnabić claimed that one opposition lawmaker, Jasmina Obradović, suffered a stroke as a result of the chaos and was in critical condition. "The woman is fighting for her life after you threw a flashbang at her," Brnabić accused the opposition MPs. She also stated that another MP, who is eight months pregnant, went into shock during the altercation.
As tensions flared, some lawmakers added to the disruption by throwing smoke grenades and tear gas, while others blew vuvuzela horns—a staple of football fan culture—to drown out the proceedings.
Anti-Corruption Protests Fuel Political Turmoil
The parliamentary upheaval comes amid months of student-led anti-corruption protests, which were sparked by the collapse of a train station roof last year that killed 15 people. The protests have intensified pressure on the Serbian government and President Aleksandar Vučić, leading to the resignation of several high-ranking officials, including Prime Minister Vučević in January.
Both Vučević and Brnabić are members of President Vučić’s SNS party, which has pledged "an urgent and extensive reconstruction of the government" in response to the protesters' demands. However, the opposition’s actions in parliament underscore the deepening political divide and the growing frustration with the ruling coalition’s handling of the crisis.
The incident highlights the volatile political climate in Serbia as the government faces mounting calls for accountability and reform.