Serbian President Nominates Political Novice as Prime Minister Amid Protests
Djuro Macut, a 62-year-old medical professor, is set to lead Serbia's government as protests against corruption and calls for systemic reform continue.
- President Aleksandar Vučić has nominated Djuro Macut, an endocrinologist with no political experience, to serve as Serbia's next prime minister, with parliamentary approval expected by April 18, 2025.
- Macut's nomination follows the resignation of former Prime Minister Miloš Vucević, who stepped down in March after protests over a deadly infrastructure collapse in Novi Sad last November that killed 16 people.
- Opposition leaders have criticized Macut's selection, calling him a figurehead for Vučić's continued control, as public anger over corruption and governance remains high.
- The protests, which persist in major cities like Belgrade and Novi Sad, have included demands for a transitional government and greater accountability from leadership.
- Adding to domestic challenges, Serbia faces international economic pressures, including a newly announced 38 percent U.S. tariff, which Vučić plans to address in an upcoming meeting with President Donald Trump.