Serbian Prime Minister Đuro Macut has come under renewed criticism after repeatedly refusing to answer whether he dined at a Belgrade restaurant a day after the fatal shooting of Aleksandar Nešović, known as Baja, prompting opposition lawmakers to accuse him of deliberately avoiding the question.
The issue dominated much of the three-day parliamentary debate on a no-confidence motion against the Serbian government. Opposition representatives repeatedly asked Macut whether he had lunch on May 13 at Restaurant 27 in the Senjak district, one day after Nešović was killed there.
Rather than providing a direct response, the prime minister argued that commenting on the matter could interfere with the ongoing criminal investigation.
“I believe that discussing this issue would amount to influencing judicial and investigative authorities. We should not further raise tensions while the investigation is underway,” Macut told lawmakers.
His refusal to give a clear yes-or-no answer immediately drew criticism from opposition parties, which claimed that his silence effectively confirmed the allegations.
Radomir Lazović, co-president of the Green-Left Front (ZLF), argued that Macut’s explanation was unconvincing and accused the government of applying double standards.
“While Đuro Macut claims he does not want to influence the investigation, Culture Minister Nikola Selaković has openly used the parliamentary podium to defend himself in another ongoing case and to criticize prosecutors. Macut’s refusal to answer only reinforces the belief that he was indeed at the restaurant the day after the killing,” Lazović said.
Đorđe Stanković, an MP from the National Movement of Serbia (NPS), echoed that assessment, saying the parliamentary session had effectively become “a public trial” of the prime minister.
“In refusing to answer such a simple question, Macut demonstrated that he was unable to deny being at the restaurant. The debate also showed, in our view, that the real political authority remains elsewhere, with figures such as Aleksandar Vučić, Siniša Mali and Ana Brnabić,” Stanković said.
Stanković further alleged that Finance Minister Siniša Mali exerted significant influence over the course of the parliamentary debate, claiming he effectively controlled speaking time for government representatives.
The Serbian parliament ultimately rejected the opposition’s motion of no confidence, allowing Macut’s government to remain in office. However, the controversy surrounding the prime minister’s refusal to address questions about his alleged visit to the restaurant has continued to generate political debate, while the investigation into the killing of Aleksandar Nešović remains ongoing.
