Serbia’s parliament descended into chaos on Tuesday after protests broke out in the chamber.
At least three lawmakers were injured, with one in critical condition after suffering a stroke, further fueling political tensions in the landlocked Balkan country, which is located at the crossroads of Southeast and Central Europe.
Video footage from the assembly hall showed a clash first between lawmakers and later flares and smoke bombs being thrown. Hundreds of opposition supporters rallied outside the parliament building during the session.
The shocking scenes stem from a fatal collapse of a canopy at a railway station in November. The incident sparked mass protests as demonstrators demanded justice and accountability for the tragedy.
Fox News reports that many in Serbia believe the fatal canopy collapse was the result of sloppy work and a disregard for safety regulations because of government corruption. The canopy at the railway station collapsed after renovations led by two Chinese companies.
The protests led to the resignation of Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic in January. However, Parliament must still confirm the prime minister’s resignation for it to take effect.
The government has tried to evade scrutiny by downplaying its culpability in the collapse at the station. Initially, the government tried to ignore the protests, then began to use force and accused the protests of being infiltrated by foreign agitators.
As the session continued, ruling coalition politicians debated while opposition lawmakers whistled and blew horns.
Opposition deputies also held signs reading “general strike,” and “justice for the killed,” while outside the building protesters stood in silence to honor 15 people killed by a railway station roof collapse.
Parliament speaker Ana Brnabic accused the opposition of being a “terrorist gang.” The ruling coalition says Western intelligence agencies are trying to destabilize Serbia and topple the government by backing the protests.
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
HEY SERBIES!!! YOU DON’T HAVE TO LOOK ANY FURTHER THAN THE GROUP YOU HAD RENOVATE THE CANOPY!!! CHINESE!!!!!!!!!!!! AND WHAT CAUSED YOU TO PICK THE CCP TO DO IT?!?!
So the ruling coalition is blaming western intelligence agencies? Chinese contractors built the train station canopy? Two interesting facts. Maybe the CCP has influenced in Serbia.