Serbia Parliament Chaos as Opposition MPs Throw Tear Gas.

Serbia's Opposition MPs Throw Tear Gas in Parliament Amid Protests

March 4, 2025

Serbian opposition lawmakers threw tear gas in Parliament to protest the government's defense of President Aleksandar Vučić, amid growing unrest over corruption allegations and government negligence following the deadly collapse of a railway station roof, which claimed 15 lives. Students, teachers, and other protesters have demanded greater accountability and better living conditions.

In an unprecedented move on March 4, 2025, opposition MPs in Serbia hurled tear gas canisters inside Parliament as a form of protest against the ruling government's backing of President Aleksandar Vučić. The protest comes amidst growing public anger surrounding the government's handling of corruption allegations and its role in a tragic incident, where a railway station roof collapsed, leading to the deaths of 15 people.

The incident, which occurred in December 2024, is being blamed on government negligence and has sparked a wave of protests. These protests, initially led by students, have gained widespread support from other sectors of society, including farmers, teachers, and the general public, and have been described as a serious challenge to President Vučić’s decade-long administration.

At the parliamentary session, the ruling party coalition, led by Vučić’s Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), had moved forward with an agenda. In response, opposition lawmakers left their seats and approached the Speaker, triggering a confrontation with security personnel. Several tear gas canisters were thrown inside the parliamentary chamber, leading to chaos. The live broadcast of the incident on national television captured the thick black smoke filling the room, as it became one of the most disruptive scenes in Serbia's parliamentary history since the introduction of multi-party democracy in 1990.

During the commotion, Speaker of Parliament Ana Brnabić confirmed that two MPs had been injured, including Jasmina Obradović from the ruling SNS party, who suffered a stroke. Her condition is reportedly serious. "Parliament will continue to operate and safeguard Serbia," Brnabić stated amid the turmoil.

Despite the disruptions, the session continued, with the ruling party discussing the rest of the agenda. Opposition MPs, however, continued to protest loudly with whistles and horns to prevent further progress. They held up banners reading "General Strike" and "Justice for the Victims," in reference to the 15 lives lost in the roof collapse. Outside the parliament, demonstrators stood in silence to honor the victims.

The student protests, which began in December 2024, have continued for several months, demanding better financial support for students and a fairer education system. The protests intensified following the tragic roof collapse, which activists argue was a result of governmental corruption and neglect.

The protest leaders have called for a large demonstration in Belgrade on March 15, 2025, aimed at demanding greater accountability from the government.

In a controversial move, the Serbian government has accused Western intelligence agencies of supporting the protests in an attempt to destabilize the country and overthrow the current government.

The Serbian Parliament was also expected to pass a law allocating more funding for universities, one of the main demands of the protesting students. Additionally, a vote on the resignation of Prime Minister Miloš Vučević was on the agenda, but the introduction of other issues by the ruling coalition angered opposition MPs and led to the dramatic protest in the chamber.