In a decisive move by Serbia’s ruling parliamentary majority, Djuro Macut, a medical professor with no prior political experience, was formally instated as the country’s new Prime Minister, marking a calculated pivot amid a wave of sustained civil unrest and institutional discontent. The elevation of Macut—widely regarded as a political novice—comes in the wake of the resignation of his predecessor, Milos Vucevic, whose tenure was eclipsed by massive anti-corruption protests that erupted in late 2023 and evolved into a national reckoning over the state of Serbian governance. These protests were initially catalyzed by a catastrophic structural failure at a train station in Novi Sad, where a roof collapse in November claimed sixteen lives. This singular event ignited a long-simmering frustration among the public, particularly university students, whose leadership of daily demonstrations soon transformed into the most significant challenge to President Aleksandar Vucic’s twelve-year grip on power.
Though the parliamentary vote confirming Macut was procedurally significant, it carried the weight of inevitability, given the overwhelming majority commanded by the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS)—the political machine anchored by President Vucic. Holding 156 out of 250 seats, the SNS rendered opposition resistance symbolic. Calls from across the political spectrum for the establishment of a transitional government to steward the country toward the 2027 elections were summarily dismissed by the SNS leadership, who dismissed the unrest as exaggerated and the accusations of systemic corruption as politically motivated. Nonetheless, these protest movements gained national traction and exposed deep fissures in public trust toward both the government’s transparency and its accountability mechanisms.
Despite his outsider status, Macut’s selection does not signal a departure from the existing political architecture. Rather, it reflects a strategy of continuity cloaked in the language of renewal. His cabinet will consist of thirty-one ministers, twenty-two of whom are carryovers from Vucevic’s administration. This recycling of personnel, combined with President Vucic’s explicit endorsement and organizational control, gives weight to the widespread perception—articulated by both domestic critics and international observers—that the real power continues to reside not in the office of the prime minister but with Vucic himself, whose newly launched “Movement for People and State” seeks to consolidate the existing ruling coalition under a rebranded political umbrella led by the SNS.
Macut’s speech before parliament attempted to strike a conciliatory tone. Calling for dialogue and decrying the continuation of street blockades, he presented himself as a unifying figure intent on restoring civic order and national cohesion. “Serbia is tired of blockades,” he declared, implicitly addressing both the protestors and the broader population fatigued by political paralysis. Yet his appeals were met with skepticism from opposition leaders, including Miroslav Aleksic of the People’s Movement party, who derided the new cabinet as functionally irrelevant and accused Vucic of orchestrating a puppet government wherein ministers serve as figureheads without meaningful autonomy or decision-making authority.
The protests have in recent days escalated in intensity, with demonstrators physically blocking access to the RTS state broadcaster and clashing with police. Such confrontations signal not only the persistence of public frustration but also the deepening distrust of government institutions, particularly those perceived as mouthpieces of the ruling party. Teneo, a global consultancy, assessed in its recent political risk analysis that the appointment of a new prime minister closely tied to Vucic’s reconfigured political movement is unlikely to defuse tensions, as the underlying grievances remain unaddressed.
Economically, Macut laid out fiscal goals intended to reassure both domestic stakeholders and international observers. His government aims to maintain the budget deficit below three percent of gross domestic product through 2027 and continue adherence to existing fiscal rules until at least 2029. These commitments suggest an effort to project fiscal discipline amid political turbulence. Simultaneously, Macut reaffirmed Serbia’s delicate foreign policy strategy of geopolitical balancing—upholding its bid for European Union membership while preserving strong bilateral ties with China, a key investor; Russia, a traditional political and cultural ally; and the United States, whose influence remains essential for regional diplomacy and economic stability.
The entire episode is an example of the complex entanglement of internal political maneuvering, public legitimacy, and geopolitical balancing that defines Serbia’s current political landscape. As Djuro Macut steps into his new role under the shadow of a deep political crisis, his administration will likely function as an instrument of continuity rather than transformation, with President Vucic continuing to direct the course of state policy and power consolidation. The public, however, has clearly signaled its readiness for more than superficial change. Whether this new configuration of leadership can quell discontent or merely suppress it remains a central question for Serbia’s democratic trajectory.
Gros News 
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