When Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić entrusted Belgrade physician Đura Macut with the mandate to form a new government on Sunday evening, it took the public by surprise.
The country has been in a deep political crisis for five months, arguably the most significant since the fall of Slobodan Milošević’s regime in 2000. The Austrian Courier reports that Vučić, a controversial figure, is desperately seeking a way out of the crisis while the pressure continues to mount.
It seems unimaginable that Macut, an individual with no political experience, could resolve the country’s national problems. In fact, it appears Vučić, whose powers are limited by the constitution, is trying to secure even greater influence over the government through Macut.
Vučić is also planning ahead for the 2027 presidential election, as noted by the Austrian outlet. According to political analyst Vesna Pešić, who was a leading opposition figure in the late 1990s, this decision confirms that the rule of law cannot be expected as long as Vučić remains in power.
Vučić’s second presidential term runs until May 2027. During a recent speech, he hinted that he was already planning for his political future. At 57 years old, he seems far from retirement.
The president mentioned his friend, Zoran Janković, the long-time mayor of Ljubljana, Slovenia, born in Serbia. Vučić expressed his belief that Janković could play a more significant role in future elections.
“I would like him to take the leading role, and I would be his assistant,” Vučić said, without directly mentioning the presidential elections planned for spring 2027.
Constitutional Amendments Unlikely
Earlier, within Vučić’s ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), there were proposals to amend the constitution to allow him to run for a third presidential term. However, this would require a two-thirds majority in the parliament, which the ruling coalition currently lacks.
While Vučić plans for his political future, the crisis seems to be worsening. According to the CRTA NGO, over 1,697 protest actions took place across the country in March alone.
Vučić is planning to present his supporters with a new political movement, the “Movement for the People and the State,” which is still in formation. It’s speculated that he wants to distance himself from the SNS, which has been deeply entrenched in corruption, although the party is expected to remain part of this new movement.
Large Student Protest in Novi Pazar
At the same time, demonstrators are expected to gather in Novi Pazar, the administrative center of the Raška region (Sandžak), for another large protest. The last major student-led protest was interrupted on March 15 in Belgrade.
Critics of the government suggest that the brief panic among protest participants was caused by the use of sound cannons or similar equipment. Vučić dismissed these claims as “lies” during a recent statement.
The Courier recalls that the political crisis began on November 1 when the roof of the Novi Sad Railway Station collapsed. The accident, which resulted in the deaths of 16 people, occurred just months after the station had been renovated. The public largely attributes the tragedy to widespread corruption within the country.
