Physical clashes broke out in the Serbian parliament on Monday after opposition MPs unfurled banners accusing the ruling coalition of trying to avoid responsibility for the collapse of the roof of the train station in Novi Sad. The accident that occurred this month claimed 15 lives, TASR reports, according to a Reuters report.
Radomir Lazovič from the opposition party Green-Left Front (ZLF) to the lectern in the parliament posted a photo of a red hand with the words “You have blood on your hands”, as was seen on the footage of the N1 television station. Acting Minister of Health Zlatibor Lončar immediately approached him and an argument began. Subsequently, other members of parliament ran screaming to the lectern and began to suck and punch each other. The opposition MPs chanted: “Murderers, murderers!” Some of them held a banner with the image of President Aleksandar Vučić with red-dyed hands above his head and the inscription “No one can be blamed”.
The accident at the recently renovated Novi Sad railway station has created significant political complications for Vučić and his ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), notes Reuters. The opposition, as well as many ordinary citizens, accuse her of nepotism and corruption. SNS rejects it.
In connection with the incident last week, at least 12 people were detained, including former Minister of Construction and Transport Goran Vesič, however, it did not contribute to easing the tension, Reuters notes. The opposition claims that the authorities have been too slow to take action against the possible culprits. Parliament was originally supposed to discuss the budget for 2025 on Monday, but the opposition demanded a debate on the disaster in Novi Sad. She also filed a motion of no confidence in the government, but the speaker of the parliament, Ana Brnabičová, announced that this motion would not be part of the agenda of Monday’s meeting.
The Serbian opposition is calling on Prime Minister Miloš Vučevič, who was the mayor of Novi Sad at the time of the construction of the aforementioned railway station, to resign. The ruling coalition rejects all accusations and blames the opposition for inciting clashes with the police during the protests in Novi Sad.
