At least three Serbian MPs hurt as smoke bombs and flares thrown in parliament
The incident reflects a deep political crisis in the Balkan country.
At least three MPs were injured on Tuesday after chaos erupted in Serbia’s parliament, where smoke bombs and flares were thrown.
Politicians were scheduled to vote on a law that would increase funding for university education, but opposition parties insisted the session was illegal and should first confirm the resignation of Prime Minister Milos Vucevic and his government.
The parliamentary chaos started about an hour after the session started, with opposition blowing whistles and holding up a banner reading “Serbia has risen so the regime would fall!”
Parliamentary speaker Ana Brnabic accused the opposition of being a “terrorist gang”. She said one of the injured politicians was in a serious condition.
The incident reflects a deep political crisis in the Balkan country where months-long anti-corruption protests have rattled a populist government.
Parliament must confirm the prime minister’s resignation for it to take effect.
Opposition parties have insisted that the government has no authority to pass new laws.
Defence Minister Bratislav Gasic described those behind the incident as “a disgrace to Serbia”.
“The vandalism of opposition MPs has exposed the nature of their personalities and the essence of their political agenda,” Mr Gasic said.
Serbia’s populist President Aleksandar Vucic visited Ms Obradovic in hospital.
“Jasmina will win, Serbia will win,” Mr Vucic said in a post on Instagram, showing him holding the politician’s hand in an emergency room.
