Smoke Grenades Detonate in Serbian Parliament Amid Protests
Newsweek5 days ago
Chaos Erupts in Serbian Parliament
Above: Opposition lawmakers hold up placards reading 'General strike' and 'You have blood on your hands' in Serbian during the opening day of the spring session of the Parliament in Belgrade on March 4, 2025. Image copyright: Andrej Isakovic/AFP via Getty Images
The Facts
Serbia's parliament descended into chaos on Tuesday, about an hour into in its first regular session this year, as opposition lawmakers set off flares and smoke bombs inside the building after some of them got into a physical altercation with security guards near the lectern.
Two members of parliament, Jasmina Obradović and eight-months pregnant Sonja Ilić, have been hospitalized due to the violence. A third lawmaker, Yasmina Karanac, also sustained injuries during the incident. All three are members of the ruling party.
Chaos broke out as soon as the ruling majority approved the planned session agenda with 62 items — including a vote to dismiss the Speaker — despite pressure from the opposition only to vote on a university funding bill and confirm the resignation of Prime Minister Miloš Vučević.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
It's a pity that three lawmakers have been injured in this incident, but the opposition was left with no option other than to disrupt this illegitimate session by any means available. Under no circumstances should the disgraced resigning government of Miloš Vučević be allowed to table further bills.
Establishment-critical narrative
This incident has nothing to do with the Novi Sad disaster, nor with student protests and their demands. It's a matter of fact that the opposition has been colluding with Western intelligence agencies in a push for a so-called color revolution to topple the legitimate government and destroy Serbia from within — and chaos is their goal.
