Serbian Parliament Set to Vote on Government Confidence on January 29
Ana Brnabić, Photo: BETAPHOTO/GOVERNMENT OF SERBIA/Pedja Vuckovic
Serbian Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabić announced that an extraordinary parliamentary session will take place on January 29th, where a vote of confidence in the Government will be on the agenda.
In an interview with Prva television, Brnabić stated that the Serbian Government enjoys confidence, but the majority of MPs will still need to ensure a quorum for the discussion.
She criticized certain MPs who called for this debate but chose not to attend, calling their behavior “childish.”
“We have a collegium meeting tomorrow, and I will find out if anyone wishes to participate,” Brnabić remarked, emphasizing that obstructing the parliament is not an option.
Brnabić also highlighted the importance of passing the law on housing loans for young people, which the Government has already introduced to the parliamentary procedure.
On November 15, opposition MPs introduced a motion for a vote of no confidence against Serbian Prime Minister Miloš Vučević.
The motion, backed by 71 opposition MPs, was filed following the tragic collapse of the railway station canopy in Novi Sad, which resulted in 15 fatalities. The grounds for the motion included “failures in jurisdiction and action, as well as neglect in establishing accountability.”
The Parliament Speaker at that time did not schedule the session, citing an upcoming discussion on the state budget, which could politically resemble a confidence vote for the Government.
A no-confidence vote against the Government would necessitate a majority from the total 250 MPs, and the ruling Serbian Progressive Party, headed by Prime Minister Vučević, currently holds a majority along with its coalition partners.
Democratic Party Announces Boycott of Parliament
Srdjan Milivojević, the leader of the opposition Democratic Party (DS), confirmed that the DS will not partake in the scheduled activities of the parliament.
He told the Beta agency that the party has responded to students’ calls for a general strike, deeming it the most effective tactic against the “mafia and criminal regime.”
“The Assembly session has lost all significance when progressive assailants are running over our children with vehicles,” Milivojević stated.
He noted that none of the students’ demands have been addressed.
Students occupying faculties across Serbia are seeking political and criminal accountability related to the canopy collapse, though they do not demand the government’s removal.
The students are also calling for full transparency regarding the reconstruction of the Novi Sad Railway Station, sanctions against those who attacked protest participants after the incident, and the halting of proceedings against demonstrators.
Government officials assert that all requirements have been satisfied and encourage students to resume classes.
Academics, however, contend that only some demands have been met, and faculty closures will remain in effect until further notice.
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