Flares and smoke grenades were set off by opposition MPs to show support for anti-corruption protests during Serbia’s first spring parliamentary session of the year.
It was the first session back since mass protests led to the resignation of former Serbian Prime Minister, Milos Vucevic, in January.
Lawmakers from the ruling coalition proposed to adopt a series of laws giving concessions to students - a bill that was put forward before Vucevic’s resignation.
However, opposition MPs claimed it made no sense to implement laws from a government after the Prime Minister had resigned.
The opposition argued that the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) has no right to propose new laws.
Radomir Lazovic from the Green-Left Front told the media after the incident: “We believe that only one item can be on the agenda, and that is the fulfilment of the student demands”.
Amid the chaos, parliament speaker Ana Brnabic said two MPs had been injured, including Jasmina Obradovic - who suffered a stroke.
Brnabic said: “The woman is fighting for her life after you threw a flashbang at her.”
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She also said that another MP, who is eight months pregnant, suffered from shock.
Brnabic invited MPs to return to their benches, insisting that the working day would not be interrupted. She said: “The parliament will continue to work and defend Serbia.”
Although the session continued, the opposition maintained their disruption by blowing whistles and vuvuzelas during speeches from ruling party MPs.
Some held signs reading “general strike”, and “justice for the killed”, referring to the 15 people who had been killed when a railway station roof collapsed in November.
The incident sparked the ongoing protests and in the direct aftermath, a scuffle between government and opposition MPs broke out in November.
The opposition criticised the government for not taking responsibility for the incident.
The student-led demonstrations, which have persisted since the disaster, pose a huge threat to President Aleksandar Vucic - who has been criticised for corruption and incompetence.
In response, Vucic has announced “an urgent and extensive reconstruction of the government.”
This is not the first outbreak of chaos in the Serbian Parliament.
Teachers, farmers and others have since joined the protestors, who stood outside the Parliament yesterday to honour the 15 who lost their life.
Protest leaders have called for a major rally in Belgrade on March 15.
Find Out More...
It was the first session back since mass protests led to the resignation of former Serbian Prime Minister, Milos Vucevic, in January.
Lawmakers from the ruling coalition proposed to adopt a series of laws giving concessions to students - a bill that was put forward before Vucevic’s resignation.
However, opposition MPs claimed it made no sense to implement laws from a government after the Prime Minister had resigned.
The opposition argued that the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) has no right to propose new laws.
Radomir Lazovic from the Green-Left Front told the media after the incident: “We believe that only one item can be on the agenda, and that is the fulfilment of the student demands”.
Amid the chaos, parliament speaker Ana Brnabic said two MPs had been injured, including Jasmina Obradovic - who suffered a stroke.
Brnabic said: “The woman is fighting for her life after you threw a flashbang at her.”
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She also said that another MP, who is eight months pregnant, suffered from shock.
Brnabic invited MPs to return to their benches, insisting that the working day would not be interrupted. She said: “The parliament will continue to work and defend Serbia.”
Although the session continued, the opposition maintained their disruption by blowing whistles and vuvuzelas during speeches from ruling party MPs.
Some held signs reading “general strike”, and “justice for the killed”, referring to the 15 people who had been killed when a railway station roof collapsed in November.
The incident sparked the ongoing protests and in the direct aftermath, a scuffle between government and opposition MPs broke out in November.
The opposition criticised the government for not taking responsibility for the incident.
The student-led demonstrations, which have persisted since the disaster, pose a huge threat to President Aleksandar Vucic - who has been criticised for corruption and incompetence.
In response, Vucic has announced “an urgent and extensive reconstruction of the government.”
This is not the first outbreak of chaos in the Serbian Parliament.
Teachers, farmers and others have since joined the protestors, who stood outside the Parliament yesterday to honour the 15 who lost their life.
Protest leaders have called for a major rally in Belgrade on March 15.
Find Out More...