From praise describing him as a non-partisan figure who will promote dialogue, to criticism calling him merely a loyal executor of President Aleksandar Vučić’s will — reactions are pouring in after Đuro Macut was nominated as Serbia’s new Prime Minister-designate, reports RFE.
The outgoing Prime Minister, Miloš Vučević, said on April 7 that Macut and the new government are expected to “bring new energy.” Speaking to Radio Television of Serbia (RTS), Vučević praised Macut as someone “capable of opening a social dialogue,” highlighting that he is “not burdened by past political baggage.”
“I don’t know if consensus can be reached, but I believe conversation and dialogue are possible. Solutions don’t lie in blockades and egg-throwing,” Vučević stated.
Macut’s Nomination and Vučić’s Influence
President Aleksandar Vučić announced on Sunday that endocrinologist Đuro Macut would lead the formation of the new government. Macut is a founding member of Vučić’s political initiative, “Movement for the People and the State.”
Vučić claimed the new government would be formed by April 18, and that Macut would “greatly help in calming tensions” in Serbia.
Ana Brnabić, Speaker of the National Assembly, also praised Macut, saying on April 7 that he had shown “great courage” by accepting the role in a “highly challenging moment,” emphasizing his readiness to work diligently and learn quickly.
“What we need most is a calm, composed individual — someone who is a person of dialogue,” Brnabić said.
Criticism from the Opposition and Civil Society
Opposition leaders, however, strongly disagreed.
Dragan Đilas, head of the Freedom and Justice Party (SSP), said that appointing a politically inexperienced doctor is Vučić’s tactic to “buy time and cling to power.”
“Macut previously signed endorsements for the Serbian Progressive Party’s list and spoke at party rallies,” Đilas stated, calling him “just another loyal executor of Vučić’s will.”
Miloš Jovanović, leader of the New Democratic Party of Serbia (NDSS), described the appointment as “changing the crew on the Titanic.”
“This government won’t be able to avoid the inevitable sinking, nor solve the deep political and social crisis Serbia faces,” Jovanović warned.
The opposition party Central Serbia stressed that for ordinary citizens, it hardly matters whether Macut, Vučević, or former Prime Minister Ana Brnabić leads the government, as Vučić remains the true leader.
Meanwhile, the informal intellectual group “ProGlas” said the nomination of Macut proves Vučić’s decision for a “government of continuity.”
At a ProGlas roundtable, academician Vladimir Kostić pointed out:
“In the past few months, all segments of society have rallied to voice dissatisfaction with Serbia’s state of affairs. Despite 452 protests and 128 rallies in just the last week, the president decided to ignore public demands and opted for a government of continuity. We reject this policy.”
President Vučić previously held consultations with parliamentary parties starting on April 2 before naming Đuro Macut as the prime minister-designate.
