Assembly Session Paused After Opposition Lawmaker Refuses to Leave Podium

A session of the Assembly of Vojvodina was abruptly halted when opposition lawmaker Dejan Kulja refused to leave the podium after his speaking rights were revoked. Assembly President Balint Juhas declared a 40-minute recess after security was called into the hall to remove Kulja, who was representing the "Serbia Center (SRCE) - Green-Left Front (ZLF) - Movement of Free Citizens (PSG)" parliamentary group.

The incident occurred after Kulja invoked the tragic canopy collapse at the Novi Sad train station on November 1, 2024, which resulted in 16 fatalities and one serious injury. Kulja directed his remarks towards the provincial secretary for agriculture, Vladimir Galić, who had previously spoken about authorities being attacked and stones thrown at him. Kulja questioned why officials allegedly entered the assembly through "mouse holes" for a year, why ruling party offices in Novi Sad remained shuttered, and why President Aleksandar Vučić had not visited the city for two years, attributing these issues to the train station disaster.

“

I am sorry that Mr. Galić did not continue to the end and say the reasons why all this happened. Why did you enter the Assembly for a year through mouse and rat holes because you did not dare to address the people and go out in front of them? Why are the blinds on the premises of the Serbian Progressive Party in Novi Sad still down today? Why has Aleksandar Vučić not dared to come to Novi Sad for two years? Because the canopy fell!

Juhas revoked Kulja's speaking rights, stating that a lawmaker is not an investigator, prosecutor, or judge and should not conduct "investigative processes" or present "political ideas" from the podium. When Kulja refused to vacate the speaker's area, and other opposition lawmakers moved to support him, preventing security from intervening, Juhas called for the recess.

The assembly's proceedings have been marked by contentious exchanges, with the discussion on the first agenda item, the budget execution report for the first six months, lasting four hours. Earlier, the assembly debated the fire in Deliblatska Peščara, with the opposition demanding accountability and the ruling party blaming the previous administration for inaction.

“

Sir, the truth is that you are neither an investigative body, nor a prosecution, nor... nor a judge. And you constantly act like investigative processes from the podium, you present some of your political ideas. I am taking away your word! That is the first thing. I will ask you to leave the podium. If you do not do that, I will ask the service to do it.