Recent events in the Serbian Parliament have captured international attention, with German media outlets describing a chaotic scene never before seen in the country’s legislative history. The disturbances included the deployment of smoke bombs, tear gas, and physical confrontations among lawmakers, leading to multiple injuries, including a life-threatening stroke for a female legislator.
Unprecedented Violence in the Serbian Parliament
The ARD, Germany’s public broadcaster, reported that violence escalated following a heated argument between members of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) and opposition lawmakers. After the ruling coalition, led by President Aleksandar Vučić, approved the agenda, opposition members stormed toward Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabić, clashing with security personnel. The tense scene was punctuated by the display of a banner reading, “Srbija se digla da režim padne” (“Serbia is rising to bring down the regime”).
Injuries and Strained Relations
According to Berliner Zeitung, the chaos intensified when a shock bomb was thrown, leading to the hospitalization of several parliamentarians. Among the injured was Jasmina Obradović, a member of the SNS, who suffered a stroke and is currently fighting for her life. Other injured individuals included Jasmina Karanac of the Social Democratic Party of Serbia (SDPS) and Sonja Ilić, an SNS representative who is eight months pregnant.
The Zeit newspaper reported that tensions boiled over after opposition leaders clashed with Brnabić’s security detail during a vote on a proposed bill to increase funding for higher education.
Political Crisis Deepens Amid Protests
The KNA (Catholic News Agency) highlighted growing frustration between the ruling SNS and the opposition. The underlying cause of the increasing tensions stems from the tragic roof collapse at the Novi Sad train station in November, which claimed 15 lives. This incident sparked mass protests, particularly among students, demanding accountability from the government.
While the Serbian government has attempted to proceed with its legislative agenda, the opposition has criticized the session as illegal, demanding that Prime Minister Miloš Vučević’s resignation be confirmed by Parliament. Vučević had announced his intention to step down in January, but his resignation has yet to be formalized.
As Serbia’s political climate grows increasingly volatile, it remains to be seen how these tensions will affect the country’s future governance and the ongoing protests across the nation.
