Serbian Parliament Erupts: Opposition Blames Government for Fatal Train Station Collapse
November 25, 2024
While opposition lawmakers sought to address accountability for the incident, the ruling party pushed forward with a bill concerning the state budget for 2025.
Vesic claimed he voluntarily cooperated with police and denied any arrest, despite public scrutiny.
Investigations have implicated Vesic and Nebojsa Surlan, a former director of Serbian Railway Infrastructure, in criminal offenses related to public safety.
Concerns about transparency have been raised, as documentation related to the station's renovation has been classified as confidential.
Opposition leader Dragan Djilas criticized Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic for obstructing discussions on government accountability regarding the tragedy.
Clashes erupted in the Serbian parliament as opposition MPs displayed banners blaming the ruling coalition for the tragic collapse of a train station roof in Novi Sad, which resulted in 15 fatalities.
Public outrage has intensified, leading to protests demanding transparency in large infrastructure projects, particularly those involving Chinese state companies.
In the aftermath of the disaster, authorities arrested twelve individuals, including former Construction Minister Goran Vesic, who resigned shortly after the incident.
Jelena Tanaskovic, the former acting general-director of Serbian Railway Infrastructure, also resigned and is currently under house arrest with electronic monitoring.
In response to the unrest, President Aleksandar Vucic condemned the opposition's actions, labeling them as disruptive and asserting that the government would continue its work.
The roof collapse occurred on November 1, 2024, raising ongoing criticisms of the government's handling of safety and maintenance issues.
As public demand for Prime Minister Milos Vucevic's resignation grows, the government's position is further complicated as Serbia seeks EU membership.
Summary based on 22 sources
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Sources

ABC News • Nov 25, 2024
Scuffles in Serbian parliament as deadly station collapse sparks anger at the government
AP News • Nov 25, 2024
Scuffles in Serbian parliament amid accusations over fatal rail station roof collapse
Newsweek • Nov 26, 2024
Fistfights Break Out in Serbian Parliament Over Roof Collapse