Serbia’s parliament descended into chaos on Tuesday as clashes between lawmakers resulted in at least three injuries. The tense session took a violent turn when opposition members disrupted proceedings by throwing smoke bombs and flares, reflecting the country’s deepening political crisis. A banner that read “Serbia rises up to bring down the regime” was seen as the session turned into a brawl.
The session was scheduled for a vote on increasing funding for university education, but opposition parties strongly objected, deeming the meeting illegal. They demanded that before any legislation could be passed, the assembly must first formally confirm the resignation of Prime Minister Milos Vucevic and his government.
U Skupštini je došlo do guranja u prostoru ispred predsednice, a tu je i dim.#Skupština pic.twitter.com/JnN28K8FUC
— Otvoreni Parlament (@O_Parlament) March 4, 2025
Serbia has been grappling with political turmoil for months, with widespread anti-corruption protests challenging the populist government. The unrest escalated after Vucevic resigned in January amid public outrage over a deadly infrastructure failure in northern Serbia. The collapse of a concrete canopy in November killed 15 people, with critics blaming the incident on widespread corruption and negligence. While Vucevic stepped down in response to the backlash, his resignation must be officially confirmed by parliament to take effect—a point of contention that has fueled tensions.
Tuesday’s violence highlights the growing divide between the ruling party and the opposition. Critics accuse the government of stalling reforms and failing to address systemic corruption. The opposition, backed by months-long public demonstrations, insists on greater accountability before any new laws are passed.
The chaotic scenes inside the Serbian parliament signal a deepening crisis that could impact the country’s governance and stability. As Serbia faces mounting political unrest, the next steps taken by its leadership will determine whether the situation escalates further or moves toward resolution.