As I’ve said before, I probably shouldn’t find legislative brawls funny, but as I’ve also said before, I absolutely do. See, e.g., “Lawmaker Injured by Flying Constitution” (Nov. 20, 2018) (Sri Lanka; books and chairs thrown); “They’re Brawling Again in Taiwan’s Parliament” (July 20, 2017) (punches and water balloons); “Legislation Breaks Out During Brawl in South Korean Assembly” (Dec. 19, 2008) (power tools, sledgehammers, fire extinguishers).
This one took place in Serbia, and surprisingly, this being Serbia and all, it was tamer than most (or at least most of the ones I have found funny). With only three injuries and, so far as I can tell, nothing actually thrown or wielded as weapons, it wasn’t too furious and some work actually got done. So that is disappointing. Flares and smoke bombs yielding fumes of at least two colors were hurled, at least, as shown above. But this was the first session of the year, according to the report, so maybe they’re just warming up.
Oh, I just noticed that after the smoke dissipated, opposition MPs “continued to try to disrupt the session by blowing whistles and vuvuzelas while ruling MPs were talking,” and I’m willing to award some bonus points for that. Cf. “Good Reason to Kill #8: The Vuvuzela” (July 1, 2010).
What was it all about? There have been mass protests in Serbia for the past three months or so, following a rail disaster that protesters reportedly say “highlighted official corruption and the government’s disdain for the population,” which are the kinds of things people get pretty upset about in democracies less than 248 years old. In Serbia’s case, it was enough to force the ruling party’s leader to resign, and the recent battle was about what if any legislation can go forward under the circumstances. The student-led protesters say only one item should be on the agenda, namely corrup— wait, it says here the item is “university tuition fees.” But then corruption, definitely.
I was pleased to see that the parliamentfights blog (tagline: “watching parliaments fight worldwide”), which I have cited in the past, is still going strong. The Serbian cage match is the first one it’s covered so far this year, but I have a feeling it won’t be the last.