Radical MP throws shoes at deputy speaker

The session of the Serbian Parliament was briefly interrupted today after an opposition MP threw both her shoes at the deputy speaker. A short recess was announced after Serb Radical Party (SRS) MP Gordana Pop-Lazic threw her shoes at Deputy Speaker Gordana Comic (DS), and refused to leave the hall. Radical MP throws shoes at deputy speaker Comic previously reprimanded Pop-Lazic and ordered her out, stating that her behavior had damaged the reputation of parliament. The deputy speaker also instructed security officers "to return the objects that belong to Pop-Lazic". The incident came during a row over a letter allegedly written by the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC), which was read in parliament on Wednesday. The Church has since denied that its representatives wrote the signed letter. SRS MP Aleksandar Martinovic attempted to explain where he received the information that it was in fact the Synod that stood behind the letter, when the deputy speaker announced he was in breach of the rules of procedure, and cut him off. Pop-Lazic then took off both her shoes and threw them at Comic. The SRS MP told reporters afterwards that she performed "a symbolic gesture of disobedience over the offensive behavior directed at the dignity of MPs". "This is a legitimate manner of protest of an MP who represents the people, and who is not able to tell parliament what the people think." Pop-Lazic added that the Radicals disagreed with the manner in which parliament was functioning, since the presiding official has been constantly cautioning the party's lawmakers, and preventing them from speaking. She went on to say that the Radicals' arguments were strong, and that this in turn caused the chairwoman to behave arrogantly. Pop-Lazic also said that the shoe-throwing incident was meant to show that SRS stands against a "violent attempt to adopt the unconstitutional Vojvodina statute". The debate on the statute continued after the recess today.

Radical MP throws shoes at deputy speaker

Čomić previously reprimanded Pop-Lazić and ordered her out, stating that her behavior had damaged the reputation of parliament.

The deputy speaker also instructed security officers "to return the objects that belong to Pop-Lazić".

The incident came during a row over a letter allegedly written by the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC), which was read in parliament on Wednesday.

The Church has since denied that its representatives wrote the signed letter.

SRS MP Aleksandar Martinović attempted to explain where he received the information that it was in fact the Synod that stood behind the letter, when the deputy speaker announced he was in breach of the rules of procedure, and cut him off.

Pop-Lazić then took off both her shoes and threw them at Čomić.

The SRS MP told reporters afterwards that she performed "a symbolic gesture of disobedience over the offensive behavior directed at the dignity of MPs".

"This is a legitimate manner of protest of an MP who represents the people, and who is not able to tell parliament what the people think."

Pop-Lazić added that the Radicals disagreed with the manner in which parliament was functioning, since the presiding official has been constantly cautioning the party's lawmakers, and preventing them from speaking.

She went on to say that the Radicals' arguments were strong, and that this in turn caused the chairwoman to behave arrogantly.

Pop-Lazić also said that the shoe-throwing incident was meant to show that SRS stands against a "violent attempt to adopt the unconstitutional Vojvodina statute".

The debate on the statute continued after the recess today.