Today, the Serbian Parliament resumed its session, continuing the discussion with over 60 items on the agenda. This follows a tumultuous debate on Tuesday, which included several incidents resulting in injuries to MPs, the use of pyrotechnics, and false reports of a bomb being located within the parliament building.

A significant presence of parliamentary security has accumulated around the speaker’s table, while opposition MPs are notably absent from the hall.

According to RTS, although some opposition MPs are within the parliament building, they are deliberately refraining from entering the session hall.

Lazović: The pyrotechnics introduced by the ZLF were cardboard cartridges

“We wish to avoid a repeat of yesterday’s parliamentary session, yet we cannot accept the possibility of 15 individuals perishing due to corruption associated with the SNS, with no one facing repercussions for it,” declared MP Radomir Lazović (ZLF) during a press conference outside the parliamentary hall, which was not attended by opposition members.

“Yesterday, approximately 150 government MPs and a hundred police officers occupied the hall, necessitating our response given our smaller numbers. I believe our action was successful in conveying a message, and we intend to replicate this, potentially with even greater impact,” Lazović noted, as reported by N1.

He emphasized that the pyrotechnics brought by the Green-Left Front consisted of cardboard cartridges, undetectable by security scanners.

“We previously requested, and continue to request at this session, that the sole agenda item be addressing students’ demands, rather than allowing the resigning government to push through an additional 60 detrimental laws,” Lazović stated.

He reiterated that they had formally submitted this request and that there was a window to avert the unfortunate incident.

“An outgoing caretaker government is neither permitted nor expected to propose new laws, particularly those influencing the long-term future of our country, such as those related to Expo, lithium mining, and the substantial debts consequent of these decisions,” he asserted.

Today, Lazović indicated, all opposition members collectively decided to withdraw from parliamentary duties.

“A clear message was sent yesterday expressing our dissent against the years of institutional violence perpetrated by the SNS. The only focus of the Serbian Parliament session should be fulfilling student demands, reflecting the sentiments of individuals in over 350 locations across Serbia. We cannot act as if everything is normal in an utterly abnormal situation,” he stated.

Lazović affirmed their accountability for their actions and their willingness to cooperate with all investigative bodies.

“Looking ahead, we are collaborating with our fellow opposition members to develop a unified proposal for addressing the crisis, centering around a transitional government. Crucially, this proposal must be collectively developed with the support of the public, experts, civil society organizations, and indeed students and citizens, as success cannot be achieved without such backing. We are prepared to listen, propose, engage in discussions, and learn, with more to be elaborated in the coming period,” he remarked.

Regarding the Green-Left Front, he added that they will endorse all civil protests occurring on the streets.

“We urge individuals to actively take part in them, and we call for participation in the general strike on March 7th, along with supporting the students’ call for a protest in Belgrade on March 15th in whichever manner they see fit,” he concluded.

Tepić: Opposition offices were searched due to a false report; we cannot return to the parliament hall

The Party of Freedom and Justice (SSP), alongside other opposition parliamentary factions, has been unable to return to the parliament hall following searches instigated by a (false) report claiming a bomb was present, MP Marinika Tepić stated at a press conference outside the parliamentary venue.

“In response to this, a violent attempt was made to pass numerous items, including the substantial debt of the Republic of Serbia. Yet, this wasn’t sufficient for them, as they further augmented the agenda with a multitude of items while proclaiming their willingness to cooperate. They themselves provoked the response witnessed yesterday,” Tepić added, citing N1.

Throughout this situation, the opposition has faced attacks, being labeled as “fascists and terrorists,” she mentioned.

“This aligns with the strategy of the Serbian Progressive Party, which is a continuation of the Serbian Radical Party’s notorious policies; they persist in their cruel tactics of incitement, insults, division, and portraying themselves as victims, adopting the familiar victim-executioner dynamic,” she remarked.

The backlash from the opposition and the public was framed as an act of violence, she stated.

“Upon leaving the National Assembly last night, we learned via the media of a bomb threat prompting rapid police action toward the site. We expressed our concerns immediately, as the intention behind this transparent false threat, recognized as such by any rational individual in Serbia, was to justify the invasion of our offices. We have no clarity on any possible evidence planted, what was taken, or what potentially could have been altered,” she elaborated.

Moreover, the heads of parliamentary factions received no update regarding the searches conducted on their offices.

“We have found ourselves in this unprecedented situation today. To make matters worse, it has never occurred before that personnel have searched through the contents of individuals’ backpacks, confiscating food and drinks from our staff. Everything was emptied out and we were subjected to extensive searches,” Tepić stated.

She questioned how anyone could sensibly engage in such an irrational situation.

“Let it be reiterated, especially after the fall of the government, that there should have been a singular agenda item around which there was consensus—the fulfillment of the fourth student demand. We earnestly requested the removal of all other items from the agenda. However, the response was a firm ‘we will do things our way, adding more items while branding you as violent and terrorist-like’. As everything remains abnormal, the government persists in behaving as if the events of November 1st never transpired, showcasing a stubborn denial of the realities unfolding around them in Belgrade and throughout Serbia. Today’s response echoes yesterday’s; after entering this building under the circumstances of uncertainty regarding our offices, we simply cannot return to the hall as if nothing transpired last night,” she asserted.

Grbović: More armed individuals in parliament than opposition members

MP Pavle Grbović remarked that the Parliamentary Group of the Movement of Free Citizens, SDA Sandžak, and the Party for Democratic Action will refrain from participating in what he termed an illusion of normalcy during today’s session of the Serbian Parliament.

“Images from yesterday displayed the true nature of the Serbian Progressive Party’s governance; they now heavily rely on overt force. The visibility of a parliament with a greater police presence than opposition members illustrates the anxiety and fear of a regime that is losing its grip and governance authority within Serbia,” he commented, according to N1.

Vulin: Serbia is now part of a group of nations where violence has invaded parliament

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin indicated that during yesterday’s parliament session, Serbia has joined the ranks of countries where violence permeates parliamentary proceedings and the safety of MPs is compromised.

Vulin shared his thoughts during the current session, noting it has become rare for anything positive to be said about Serbia on the global stage.

“(US President Donald) Trump mentioned us during his congressional address—not for anything commendable. He referenced us in connection with funds from USAID and ridiculed us, much like how the world viewed the distasteful images from parliament yesterday,” he stated.

He raised a pressing question about how, in the aftermath of yesterday’s events, Police Minister Ivica Dačić could take action against a fan for throwing a cannonball, when similar behavior by MPs in parliament had gone unchecked.

Discussing student protests, he noted a shift in perception from distinguishing between good and bad students.

“There are no longer grades of students; they are universally perceived as perfect, infallible beings. Anyone else might err—doctors, professors—but not a student,” he remarked.

Jovanović and Ponoš: We are withdrawing from parliamentary participation

Aleksandar Jovanović Ćuta from the Ecological Uprising announced that he will no longer partake in parliamentary proceedings, affirming, “This is our resolution, which we have consistently reiterated.”

“We cannot engage with individuals who resort to violence against students, who use jeeps to run them over,” he told N1.

Zdravko Ponoš, the president of the Serbia Center party (SRCE), also expressed their parliamentary group’s decision to cease their participation in the Serbian Parliament.

“Yesterday marked an attempt to engage in constructive discussions during that plenary session, specifically regarding an initiative to prevent an additional two billion euros from being added to the national debt, while also addressing what should be our fourth student demand—despite some confusion surrounding whether discussions indicated fulfillment of this demand or not. Nonetheless, it is undeniably a vital matter. Additionally, the resignation of the Prime Minister has been overdue, warranting discussions on what actions should be taken regarding Ana Brnabić. In essence, everything else is futile as the resigning government continues to rack up further debt,” Ponoš affirmed.

He noted that previous attempts to circumvent this through the agenda proved ineffective.

“There’s no purpose in participating further, nor in giving testimony, hence our decision to withdraw from such proceedings,” emphasized Ponoš.

HOPE: The only solution is elections managed by a transitional government

The “NADA” coalition, which comprises the New Democratic Party of Serbia (Novi DSS) and the Movement for the Renewal of the Kingdom of Serbia (POKS), delineated today that the singular issue for which this specific convocation of the Serbian Parliament can decide is the election of a transitional government tasked with overseeing free and democratic elections.

“Yesterday, we demonstrated our resolute stance against the maneuvering of (Serbian President) Aleksandar Vučić, aiming to project a facade of normalcy in the country, where institutions are purportedly functioning effectively and the opposition is participating. In truth, the opposite holds; throughout his 13 years in power, he has rendered every national institution, including the parliament, essentially ineffective,” declared Miloš Jovanović, the New DSS president, in a written statement.

He highlighted that the Parliament has long ceased operating as a democratic forum, instead serving as a mere illusion, creating a façade for citizens that they are engaged in legislative processes while in reality, one individual dictates all decisions.

Moreover, he stated that the government intends to exploit the rationale of adopting laws related to student demands to push through over 60 decisions required to continue exploiting citizens and perpetuating corruption, which is linked to the deaths of 15 people in Novi Sad.

“We will not lend our participation to this charade, nor will we enable them to claim the Parliament operates normally with the opposition’s presence, even amidst smoke and clamor. Our fight, which commenced yesterday in Parliament, will now transition to various platforms through all forms of civil disobedience, urging the Serbian populace and all citizens of Serbia to join us because under the autocratic regime of Aleksandar Vučić, no alternative exists,” Jovanović stressed.

POKS President Vojislav Mihailović characterized the government’s actions as having relegated the Parliament to a venue for “dirty propaganda wars” against the opposition, whereby democracy has been nonexistent for 13 years.

“Every incident is orchestrated to the extreme, demonstrated by the exaggerated injuries of three female MPs, only to subsequently announce that they were unharmed. The chaos that has enveloped our nation under Aleksandar Vučić’s leadership necessitates that the only viable solution is for free and democratic elections to be convened by a transitional government, as Vučić’s administration is primarily skilled in orchestrating electoral fraud,” Mihailović assessed.

He noted that both North Macedonia and Montenegro, along with Serbia in 2000, utilized transitional governments for conducting elections.

“It’s evident why this is unacceptable for Aleksandar Vučić; he is acutely aware that such elections would result in his loss of power,” he stated.

Overview of yesterday’s session

During the opening of the spring session, the proceedings faced multiple interruptions as opposition MPs expressed their dissatisfaction with the decision to consolidate the debate and allow members of the resigning government to explain legislative proposals. They vacated their seats, activating smoke bombs and a fire extinguisher near the chairman’s desk.

According to Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabić, MP Jasmina Obradović suffered a stroke as a consequence, while MPs Jasmina Karanac and Sonja Ilić sought medical assistance.

Brnabić likened the actions of the opposition to those of a “terrorist group,” while Interior Minister Ivica Dačić threatened possible criminal charges for that behavior.

The opposition refrained from speaking, yet they disrupted the speeches of ruling members with whistles, vuvuzelas, and noise-making.

The session was scheduled to address 62 agenda items, which included amendments to the Higher Education Law, a proposal regarding youth housing loans, the ratification of the Serbia-Egypt Free Trade Agreement, and revisions to Personal Income Tax laws.

Discussion concerning the agenda items remained minimal, with MPs and ministers predominantly critiquing the opposition and commenting on the tense atmosphere in parliament.

The First Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade revealed that regarding the disruptive events in the Serbian Parliament, they requested the police to gather essential information to identify any perpetrators.

Later that evening, a bomb threat was made, claiming an explosive device had been set in the parliament building.

A counter-sabotage investigation subsequently confirmed the tip was false.

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