Serbia’s President Nominates Political Outsider as Prime Minister Amid Ongoing Protests

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has nominated Djuro Macut, a politically inexperienced endocrinologist and university professor, as the country’s new prime minister, Al Jazeera reports.

The move comes amidst widespread protests that led to the resignation of the previous premier, Milos Vucevic, last month.

Vucic announced the nomination of the 62-year-old Macut weeks after parliament approved Vucevic’s resignation on March 19, following violence at protests fueled by concerns over the president’s authoritarian leadership and government corruption.

Opposition parties swiftly rejected Macut’s nomination, pointing to his past support for Vucic’s Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) and suggesting he will be subject to the president’s influence. Vucic has held onto power for 12 years.

Despite opposition criticism, Macut is expected to secure the prime minister position easily, as the SNS controls the parliament. Having been governed by technocrats since Vucevic’s resignation was accepted, Macut must now form a government and present it to the parliament by April 18.

A quick confirmation process would signal political stability under Vucic to both domestic and international observers, particularly as Serbia continues its European Union accession talks.

However, the protests, which intensified following the collapse of a railway station roof in Novi Sad last November that killed 16 people, persist, particularly in Belgrade and Novi Sad. The tragedy, attributed to government corruption and mismanagement, sparked public outrage and demands for accountability.

Serbian authorities have occasionally used forceful tactics against protesters, but most demonstrations have remained peaceful. Organizers have actively distanced themselves from political parties.

Recently, a group of approximately 80 Serbian university students embarked on a 1,300km (807-mile) bicycle journey from Novi Sad to Strasbourg, France, to raise awareness of their cause among EU officials.