Parliament Begins Sitting Sans Opposition, Security Present

A Session of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia (BetaPhoto/Milan Obradovic)

On Nov. 27, the Serbian National Assembly commenced a sitting where the proposed 2025 state budget has been adopted, sans opposition MPs and with a significant presence of security in the assembly hall itself.

Prior to the sitting, opposition representatives announced that they would not participate in the day’s vote in protest of the events of Nov. 25, adding that they would be filing a criminal complaint against Speaker Ana Brnabic over abuse of office affecting the assembly’s operation.

The opposition MPs also displayed photos of what they claim are snipers positioned on the roof of the House of Parliament.

Aside from the budget proposal, today’s agenda includes over 50 additional items to be voted on, including amendments to the Criminal Code, the Law on Games of Chance, the Electric Power Industry Act and the Law on Pensions and Disability Insurance.

The Assembly will also be discussing the Business Services bill and the Strategic Environmental Impact bill, as well as draft laws on money laundering prevention, excise taxes, infrastructural and energy projects, agricultural incentives, utilities and monitoring the danger of serious accidents involving harmful substances, along with proposals ratifying several international agreements, contracts and memoranda.

The sitting initially began on Nov. 25 but was interrupted after several incidents culminated in a brawl between regime and opposition MPs, with the latter demanding that the day’s agenda include a motion of no-confidence against the Cabinet due to the Novi Sad railway station collapse which killed 15 on Nov. 1.

After a recess during which opposition MPs allegedly damaged microphones and video screens in the assembly hall, the majority MPs adopted the agenda sans discussion and Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic immediately adjourned the sitting, which was continued today.