Serbia's President Vucic taps novice prime minister amid protest pressure
Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic has nominated a politically inexperienced endocrinologist and university professor as prime minister, amid massive ongoing protests that forced the previous premier to resign.
Vucic announced the nomination of 62-year-old Djuro Macut weeks after the resignation of Milos Vucevic was approved by parliament on March 19 amid violence at the protests, which are focused on the president's authoritarian stance and government corruption.
Opposition parties were quick to reject the nomination of the Belgrade University lecturer, who had previously backed Vucic's Serbian Progressive Party (SNS).
They claimed that Macut would be beholden to directions from Vucic, who is trying to maintain his 12-year grip on power.
'The prime minister-designate can be anyone or nobody as long as Vucic remains the head of the state,' said Pavle Grbovic, head of the Movement of Free Citizens party.
'Knowledge about polycystic ovaries is not a reference for running the government, which requires a completely different kind of expertise,' said Boris Tadic, a former president and head of the opposition Social Democratic Party.
However, Macut is unlikely to encounter heavy resistance on his way to becoming prime minister since the SNS, which he will also formally lead, controls parliament.
With the government having been run by technocrats since parliament accepted Vucevic's resignation on March 19, Macut must now form a government and present it to the house by April 18.
A swift confirmation process could signal political continuity for Vucic to both domestic and international audiences, with European Union accession talks still on the line for Serbia.
However, the protests, which have spiralled since the collapse of a railway station roof in Novi Sad last November that killed 16 people, have not died down, particularly in Belgrade and Novi Sad.
The tragedy was attributed to government corruption and mismanagement, leading to a public outcry and demands for accountability.
Serbian authorities have occasionally used forceful tactics against protesters, but most demonstrations have proceeded without major incidents or deaths.
The protests, which have seen organisers working hard to keep their distance from all political parties, have continued in varying forms.
A group of about 80 Serbian university students embarked on a 1,300km (807-mile) journey from Novi Sad to Strasbourg in France on bicycles to draw EU attention to their cause.
Macut's nomination is likely to test the mood, however, with the protesters having demanded a transitional government and for Vucic to step down.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Jazeera
30-05-2025
- Al Jazeera
Serbia probes arms to Ukraine after Russia alleges ‘stab in the back'
Serbia and Russia have agreed to jointly investigate allegations that Serbian-made arms were delivered to Ukraine after Moscow accused Belgrade of betrayal over reports Serbian-made ammunition reached Kyiv. Russian foreign intelligence agency SVR branded the alleged transfers a 'stab in the back', accusing Serbia's defence industry of funnelling weapons to Ukraine through NATO-linked countries, including the Czech Republic, Poland and Bulgaria, as well as unnamed African states. 'They have one clear purpose – to kill and maim Russian military personnel and the civilian population,' SVR said in a statement on Thursday. 'It seems that the desire of Serbian defence industry workers and their patrons to profit from the blood of fraternal Slavic peoples has made them completely forget who their real friends are and who their enemies are,' the Russian statement said. Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic confirmed that a working group had been formed with Russian officials to verify the claims, but rejected some of the accusations. 'Some of the things that have been said are not true,' Vucic told state broadcaster RTS, adding that he discussed the issue with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a Moscow visit earlier this month. Belgrade continues to walk a tightrope between its traditional alliance with Russia and its ambition to join the European Union. While Serbia has condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine at the United Nations, it has resisted pressure to join Western sanctions. A leaked Pentagon document from 2023 suggested Serbia had agreed to supply arms to Ukraine, despite officially declaring military neutrality. In 2024, The Financial Times reported that Serbia exported at least $908m worth of ammunition to Ukraine via third countries since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022. Serbia's weapons industry, heavily based on Soviet-era designs, produces arms compatible with those used by both Russian and Ukrainian forces. Although Moscow remains Serbia's main gas supplier and controls its only oil refinery, Vucic has also met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy several times and expressed support for Ukraine's territorial integrity.
Al Jazeera
07-04-2025
- Al Jazeera
Serbia's President Vucic taps novice prime minister amid protest pressure
Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic has nominated a politically inexperienced endocrinologist and university professor as prime minister, amid massive ongoing protests that forced the previous premier to resign. Vucic announced the nomination of 62-year-old Djuro Macut weeks after the resignation of Milos Vucevic was approved by parliament on March 19 amid violence at the protests, which are focused on the president's authoritarian stance and government corruption. Opposition parties were quick to reject the nomination of the Belgrade University lecturer, who had previously backed Vucic's Serbian Progressive Party (SNS). They claimed that Macut would be beholden to directions from Vucic, who is trying to maintain his 12-year grip on power. 'The prime minister-designate can be anyone or nobody as long as Vucic remains the head of the state,' said Pavle Grbovic, head of the Movement of Free Citizens party. 'Knowledge about polycystic ovaries is not a reference for running the government, which requires a completely different kind of expertise,' said Boris Tadic, a former president and head of the opposition Social Democratic Party. However, Macut is unlikely to encounter heavy resistance on his way to becoming prime minister since the SNS, which he will also formally lead, controls parliament. With the government having been run by technocrats since parliament accepted Vucevic's resignation on March 19, Macut must now form a government and present it to the house by April 18. A swift confirmation process could signal political continuity for Vucic to both domestic and international audiences, with European Union accession talks still on the line for Serbia. However, the protests, which have spiralled since the collapse of a railway station roof in Novi Sad last November that killed 16 people, have not died down, particularly in Belgrade and Novi Sad. The tragedy was attributed to government corruption and mismanagement, leading to a public outcry and demands for accountability. Serbian authorities have occasionally used forceful tactics against protesters, but most demonstrations have proceeded without major incidents or deaths. The protests, which have seen organisers working hard to keep their distance from all political parties, have continued in varying forms. A group of about 80 Serbian university students embarked on a 1,300km (807-mile) journey from Novi Sad to Strasbourg in France on bicycles to draw EU attention to their cause. Macut's nomination is likely to test the mood, however, with the protesters having demanded a transitional government and for Vucic to step down.
Al Jazeera
05-04-2025
- Al Jazeera
AI and doxxing sites: Trump vs antiwar activists
Over the past month, hundreds of international students in the US have either been detained, deported, or stripped of their visas for protesting Israel's war on Gaza. The Trump administration's crackdown is being described as an assault on political dissent – one that has been enabled by mainstream news outlets and pro-Zionist pressure groups. This story is about more than just visas. It's about who gets to speak in Trump's America. Contributors: Adolfo Franco – Republican strategist and lawyer Eric Lee – Immigration lawyer Yumna Patel – Editor-in-chief, Mondoweiss Prem Thakker – Reporter, Zeteo News The German government is attempting to deport four foreign students – none of whom have been charged with a crime – over their pro-Palestinian activism. Ryan Kohls reports. For the past five months, Serbia has been in the grip of historic protests against President Aleksandar Vucic's government. Young people have led the way, demanding political reform. But in doing so they've faced a powerful adversary – not only in government, but in its collection of loyalists in the media. Meenakshi Ravi reports from Belgrade on the narrative they have been spinning and the pushback they are getting from Serbian citizens. Featuring: Snjezana Milivojevic – Professor, University of Belgrade Vesna Radojevic – Reporter, KRIK Suzana Vasiljevic – Media adviser to the president of Serbia
