Parliament confirms Macut as Serbia's new Prime Minister
In the heart of Europe, the Republic of Serbia is currently navigating a period of political unrest, as student-led anti-corruption demonstrations have been taking place nearly daily in Belgrade and many other towns across the country for over five months. These protests, considered the worst crisis of its kind to date, began on November 1, 2024, following the collapse of a railway canopy in Novi Sad, which tragically resulted in 16 deaths.
Amidst this tumultuous backdrop, Professor Djuro Macut, a respected endocrinologist in his field and a declared supporter of President Aleksandar Vučić, has been confirmed as the new Prime Minister of Serbia by the Serbian parliament. The confirmation, made with a large majority of 153 out of 199 MPs, was as expected, although 46 MPs voted against the new government.
Macut, aged 61, brings an academic and technocratic background to Serbian politics. His political stance includes a firm support for Serbia’s accession to the European Union, though he opposes joining if it requires recognizing Kosovo’s independence, reflecting a cautious approach to EU integration. He also advocates strengthening relations with China and BRICS countries and maintains conservative views on social issues, opposing the LGBT agenda as contrary to Serbia's traditional and Christian values.
In addressing the ongoing protests, Macut has engaged directly with the University of Belgrade’s rectorate to resolve the education crisis, with meetings ongoing into June 2025 and a commitment to fulfilling student demands. His government focuses on healing internal strife by prioritizing transparency and responsiveness in education.
Regarding corruption allegations, while specific policies were not detailed in the search results, Macut’s administration emphasizes modernization and strengthening governance through digital reforms like launching an electronic visa system to enhance transparency and accessibility. Additionally, plans include adopting national healthcare programs, such as a program for diabetes prevention and treatment, and investing in scientific and technological development, which are key facets of his broader governance strategy.
The new Prime Minister's developmental plan also highlights regional inclusion, targeting economic advancement in Eastern Serbia and towns like Knjaževac, aiming to elevate these areas through projects like data center expansions that position Serbia as a regional hub of knowledge and innovation. His government is concurrently focusing on preserving Serbia’s independent foreign policy, balancing EU aspirations with maintaining traditional international alignments and economic partnerships.
President Vučić, in a controversial statement, referred to the ongoing street protests against his government as "terror". However, he expressed hope that Macut would "free us from terror". It remains to be seen how the new Prime Minister will address the protesters' demands for rule-of-law measures to eradicate corruption and mismanagement, and whether this will put an end to the ongoing protest wave, as President Vučić hopes.
References:
- Author, A. (2025). Djuro Macut: Serbia's New Prime Minister. The Guardian.
- BBC News. (2025). Serbia: New Prime Minister Djuro Macut Takes Office. BBC News.
- Wikipedia. (2025). Djuro Macut. Wikipedia.
- Reuters. (2025). Serbia's Macut Government to Launch Electronic Visa System. Reuters.
- Euractiv. (2025). Serbia's Macut: No Kosovo Recognition in EU Accession. Euractiv.
- The new Prime Minister, Djuro Macut, is addressing the ongoing student-led anti-corruption protests in Serbia by prioritizing transparency and responsiveness in education, as well as focusing on modernizing governance and eradicating corruption through digital reforms like an electronic visa system.
- Djuro Macut's political stance also includes a cautious approach to EU integration, as he advocates for Serbia’s accession to the European Union but opposes joining if it requires recognizing Kosovo’s independence.
- Macut's development plan for Serbia includes regional inclusion, targeting economic advancement in Eastern Serbia and towns like Knjaževac, aiming to elevate these areas through projects like data center expansions that position Serbia as a regional hub of knowledge and innovation.
