Parliament votes to remove MP's immunity

Parliament votes to remove MP's immunity

150 MPs then voted in favor of stripping Tomić, a member of the ruling SNS party, of his immunity as MP.

The Progressives (SNS) and the opposition Democrats (DS) engaged in a strong-worded debate during the session, even though both parties said they would support the motion to lift Tomić's immunity.

With the arrest and the opening of the corruption case taking place during the election campaign, the DS accused the SNS of using it to promote themselves and their leader Aleksandar Vučić. The Progressives rejected this, saying that "laws must apply at all times and equally to all."

They also accused the Democrats of destroying the economy and banks during the time they were in power in Serbia.

Tomić, who heads the Executive Board of the recently delicensed Univerzalna Banka was arrested on Friday along with four other officials of the bank.

They are suspected of approving loans without proper collateral, incurring damages and making illegal gains in the amount of EUR 1.35 million and RSD 402 million.