The Serbian parliament was reminded of a fight on Monday during the debate on the 2025 budget, as MPs clashed fiercely with each other in Novi Sad on November 1.
As the meeting began, opposition figures held up placards with bloody hands, while chanting “Murderers, murderers”.
The opposition holds the government responsible for the collapse of part of the roof at the train station, killing 15 and injuring two.
Serbian Parliament in chaos today!
Serbia is in an absolute state of crisis since the devastating tragedy when 15 people died after the canopy of the newly renovated train station collapsed in Novi Sad.
— Andela Milivojevic (@djandjava)
MPs of the coalition, reacting, got up from their seats, moved towards their protesting colleagues and a fight ensued. Punches, slaps, hair pulling and vulgar and abusive language were heard. The police who entered the hall, following the order of the Speaker of the Parliament, Ana Brnabic, barely managed to prevent the generalization of the fight.
Parliament of Serbia, today.
Fighting, spitting and insults… You don’t know who is hitting whom
— Olgica Rajković (@OlgicaRajkovic)
After temporarily adjourning the meeting, Burnaby returned a short time later and declared the budget debate over.
In a press conference held afterwards, the opposition called the decision of the Speaker of the House a coup.
With his post on Instagram, the President of the Republic, Aleksandar Vucic, accused the opposition of trying to terrorize the citizens. He even points out that the goal of the opposition parties was to prevent the budget from being passed “to prevent retirees from receiving increased pensions and public sector workers from seeing increased wages.”
“It will not pass them. Serbia will not stop!” concludes Vucic in his post.
