This morning, opposition deputies in Serbia launched smoke grenades and tear gas within the parliament as a demonstration against government policies and in solidarity with protesting students, as captured by live broadcasts.
The demonstrations, which were triggered by the roof collapse of a train station that resulted in 15 fatalities four months ago, have transformed into a significant challenge for the Serbian government.
During the legislative session, after the ruling coalition led by the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) ratified the agenda, several opposition politicians rushed from their seats towards the parliamentary speaker, leading to clashes with security personnel.
In the chaos, some threw smoke grenades and tear gas, with live television coverage showing clouds of black and pink smoke filling the space.
“The parliament will persist in its work and uphold Serbia,” she stated during the session.
The parliament was set to approve a law that would increase funding for universities, which is one of the primary demands of students who have been staging blockades since December.
Additionally, the parliament was expected to acknowledge the resignation of Prime Minister Milos Vucevic. However, other agenda items put forth by the ruling coalition incited further anger among the opposition.
