March 4, 2025, will go down as a day of political reckoning in Serbia — a day when frustration, fury, and years of growing mistrust boiled over into smoke-filled anarchy inside the heart of the nation’s democracy.
What began as a routine parliamentary session, meant to debate university funding reforms, quickly descended into a battlefield, with opposition lawmakers transforming the National Assembly into a stage for their anger — and for the anger of tens of thousands who have taken to Serbia’s streets over the past months.
A Parliament Under Siege — From the Inside
As soon as the session began, opposition MPs made it clear they were no longer willing to play by the rules of a system they claim is rigged in favor of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS). Accusing the government of trying to sneak through legislation under questionable legal circumstances, opposition members blew whistles, shouted slogans, and raised banners with bold, defiant letters: “Serbia Has Risen So The Regime Will Fall!”
But that was only the beginning.
With cameras rolling and the eyes of the nation fixed on the unfolding chaos, MPs from opposition parties lit smoke bombs in the middle of the assembly hall. Thick, choking smoke filled the air, turning the grand chamber into something resembling a protest street — a place where visibility vanished and order dissolved. Bright flares crackled near the speaker’s podium, filling the room with flashes of red and orange.
Violence and Emergency Response
Shouting matches escalated into physical confrontations, with MPs pushing, shoving, and grabbing at each other in the smoky haze. In the middle of the mayhem, Jasmina Obradović, a longtime opposition MP, collapsed clutching her chest. Paramedics forced their way into the hall, and she was carried out on a stretcher, later confirmed to have suffered a stroke. As of the latest reports, her condition remains critical.
Why Did It Happen?
The fury in parliament is the political reflection of growing unrest across Serbia — unrest fueled by widespread corruption, economic anxiety, and a sense that the government serves the interests of the powerful while ordinary people are left behind.
The immediate spark for today’s eruption was the government’s attempt to push through legislation despite the pending resignation of Prime Minister Miloš Vučević. According to the opposition, no new laws should be voted on until his resignation is officially accepted, and a transitional government is in place.
This legal technicality became the symbolic battlefield for a much larger fight: the opposition’s demand for new, transparent elections, free from the influence of SNS-controlled media, institutions, and security forces.
A Nation in Revolt
Today’s smoke and screams inside parliament are only the latest chapter in a much larger story — one that began months ago when a railway station canopy collapsed in Novi Sad, killing 15 people. The collapse was blamed squarely on corruption in construction contracts tied to politically connected companies. That tragedy ignited a movement, with citizens pouring into the streets demanding accountability, change, and an end to what they call the state-capture of Serbia.
Those protests, which began as calls for justice, have since evolved into a nationwide call for regime change. Opposition leaders — though far from united — have found common ground in demanding a transitional government to oversee the next elections, something President Aleksandar Vučić and his allies have fiercely resisted.
What’s Next?
As of tonight, protesters are gathering outside parliament in Belgrade, chanting, singing, and lighting candles for those they say have suffered under this government — from the victims of the Novi Sad tragedy to the injured MPs of today’s chaotic session. The fight for Serbia’s future is no longer confined to the streets. It has broken down the doors of the very institutions meant to protect democracy — leaving the fate of the country hanging in a cloud of smoke and uncertainty.
