- Three lawmakers injured during education funding vote
- Opposition claims illegal session amid unresolved PM resignation
- Incident follows months of anti-corruption protests
- 2023 concrete collapse (15 deaths) triggered government scrutiny
- Legal limbo persists as parliament delays resignation confirmation
Chaos engulfed Serbia's National Assembly as opposition members disrupted a contentious vote on education reforms. Three legislators sustained minor injuries amid thick smoke from pyrotechnic devices, delaying proceedings for 90 minutes. The session's legality faced challenges from seven opposition parties demanding resolution of Prime Minister Milos Vucevic's pending resignation before any legislative action.
This parliamentary breakdown follows 11 months of sustained protests sparked by infrastructure failures linked to corruption. Public outrage peaked after a 2023 shopping mall canopy collapse killed 15 citizens in Novi Sad – an incident safety inspectors had flagged six months prior. Similar patterns emerged in neighboring North Macedonia, where 2016 construction permit scandals toppled Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski's government through mass demonstrations.
Political analysts identify three critical factors in Serbia's instability: First, transitional democracies often struggle with symbolic reforms that fail to address systemic graft. Second, delayed leadership transitions create governance paralysis – Vucevic's cabinet remains in caretaker status 45 days post-resignation. Third, youth-led movements are increasingly bypassing traditional opposition channels, with student groups organizing 78% of recent anti-corruption rallies.
The education funding bill at the heart of Tuesday's conflict reveals deeper tensions. While proposing 22% budget increases for universities, critics note 60% of funds would flow through government-controlled committees. This mirrors problematic patterns in Bosnia's 2021 higher education reforms, where politically appointed administrators diverted 34% of allocated resources from academic institutions.
Constitutional law experts warn that prolonged legislative gridlock could trigger snap elections under Article 115. However, with voter turnout declining 18% since 2020, many citizens express skepticism toward electoral solutions. As night fell on Belgrade, student organizers announced plans for Friday's 'March for Accountability' – the 63rd consecutive weekly demonstration demanding transparent governance reforms.