In early March 2025, the Serbian Parliament became the focus of intense media coverage after opposition lawmakers disrupted a session using flares and smoke grenades. This protest, aimed at government policies, generated significant attention across Serbia, the Balkans, and Europe. Sensika’s report, titled Serbian Parliament Protest, examines how media outlets across regions covered the event and how different political narratives emerged.
Serbian media accounted for nearly half of all reporting, with 48% of the coverage coming from local outlets. These sources primarily focused on domestic unrest, framing the protest as a challenge to political stability. Media known for supporting the government, including 24sedam, Kurir, and Pink.rs, emphasized the disruptive nature of the demonstration while minimizing the opposition’s message.
Regional news from the Balkans made up 35% of the coverage, led by Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Bulgaria. Many of these reports explored the broader regional implications. Some Bulgarian media, in particular, featured strong political commentary. Far right politician Kostadin Kostadinov linked the protest to anti Western sentiment and accused the European Union of showing selective concern. While this view resonated with some local audiences, it received less support from international commentators.
The remaining 17% of the coverage came from prominent European news organizations such as the BBC, Le Monde, Reuters, and El País. These outlets placed the protest in a wider context, examining its implications for democratic governance and Serbia’s relationship with the European Union. Russian outlet News Pravda also played a significant role in shaping international coverage, especially through its content published in Serbian.
Sensika’s guide highlights how political narratives are shaped by national context, editorial stance, and audience. It includes detailed insights on language use, media volume, and the most frequently mentioned political figures, including Aleksandar Vučić and Ana Brnabić.
This guide offers valuable information for journalists, policy experts, and researchers seeking to understand media influence and public sentiment. Download Serbian Parliament Protest to explore how media across Europe covered one of Serbia’s most politically charged events of the year.