Serbia’s Opposition Politicians Threw Smoke Bombs In Parliament To Support Student Protests Against Corruption
Opposition lawmakers threw smoke grenades and held signs that read, “general strike” and “justice for the killed” in reference to the people killed in the railway station collapse.
Serbian opposition lawmakers threw smoke grenades during a Parliament meeting to protest the government and support the ongoing student-led anti-corruption protests.
The protests began after the tragic collapse of a railway station roof in Novi Sad in November 2024, killing 15 people, aged between six and 74, which many blamed on corruption and negligence within the government.
The student-led protests have been ongoing for four months, forcing prime minister Miloš Vučević to resign on Jan. 28, following pressure from the demonstrators to “defuse tensions”.
Students are demanding greater transparency and a higher education budget, with protest leaders calling for a major rally in the capital Belgrade on March 15, according to Reuters.
On Tuesday, March 4, after the ruling coalition party, the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), approved the meeting agenda, opposition lawmakers ran towards the Parliament speaker before clashing with security personnel.
During the meeting, the ruling party had planned to discuss new laws, but the opposition lawmakers said the outgoing party could not propose new legislation given that Vučević had resigned.
“The only thing we can talk about is the Law on Higher Education, which leads to the fulfillment of the fourth demand of students,” the opposition party, the People's Movement of Serbia, wrote on X.
Opposition lawmakers then threw smoke grenades towards the ruling party lawmakers and held signs that read, “general strike” and “justice for the killed” in reference to the people killed in the railway station collapse.
Authorities said three lawmakers were injured and one had suffered a stroke during the session, according to Reuters.
Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic accused the opposition of being a "terrorist gang,” with the ruling coalition saying that Western intelligence agencies are backing the protests to destabilize Serbia and topple the government.
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