Chaos Erupted in the Serbian Parliament When a Deputy Threw a Smoke Bomb.

The Serbian parliament experienced chaos on Tuesday when opposition lawmakers threw smoke grenades and tear gas inside the chamber in protest against the government and in support of the students who were showing. During the session, opposition deputies lit flares, threw smoke grenades and eggs, and some physically clashed with security guards. Amid the confusion, several members of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), including a pregnant woman, were injured, one of them suffered a stroke. The protesters displayed a banner that read: "Serbia rises to overthrow the regime". This event marks a dramatic escalation of the student protest movement that has shaken the country, constituting the strongest threat to the government of President Aleksandar Vučić. The protests began after the collapse of a ''canopy'' at a train station in Novi Sad in November, which left 15 dead. The tragedy sparked discontent among some sectors with Vučić's administration, who has been in power for 12 years. Since then, there have been almost daily protests involving certain sectors of Serbian society, which are more aligned with the European Union's political circle. On Tuesday, some opposition deputies held signs demanding "justice for the dead" while outside the parliament a minute of silence was observed for the victims of the Novi Sad accident. Vučić's government has replied ambiguously, between disqualifying the protests as foreign maneuvers to destabilize Serbia and adopting a more conciliatory tone, offering some concessions. The Serbian parliament was scheduled to confirm the resignation of Prime Minister Miloš Vučević, who resigned in January in an attempt to calm political tensions. However, the protesters interpreted his resignation as an attempt by the president to divert attention and avoid taking responsibility for the crisis. The opposition continued to argue that this gesture was not enough to solve the underlying issues. During the session, the political dispute intensified, with the government defending the session's agenda that included the vote on the dismissal of the parliament president, Ana Brnabić. Meanwhile, opposition lawmakers attempted to disrupt the session with whistles and the use of ''vuvuzelas''. Despite the violence and chaos, the ruling coalition continued with the session. Brnabić reported that three SNS members had been injured, but insisted that the workday would continue as planned. The massive protests, which emerged after the disaster in Novi Sad, have been marked by a clear rejection of the government and what the protesters perceive as indifference toward the population. These protests have become the most significant challenge for Vučić's government, prompting the resignation of several high-level officials. However, the demonstrations have avoided being co-opted by political parties, although at times, opposition parties have seized the opportunity to join them. This Tuesday was the first parliamentary session of 2025 and the first after Vučević's resignation. Although the chaos in the parliament continued, the protesters outside the chamber demanded changes, and the police were deployed to maintain order.