Serbian president names Duro Macut as prime minister-designate

ISTANBUL

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on Sunday named Duro Macut as the country’s next prime minister-designate, according to public broadcaster PTC, following the resignation of former Prime Minister Milos Vucevic last month.

“I propose to the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia Professor Dr. Duro Macut as a candidate for prime minister,” Vucic announced, citing Macut’s professional credentials and leadership qualities as key to guiding Serbia through difficult times.

Vucic stated that the new government will be elected on Friday and will face "very difficult tasks."

Macut’s appointment comes after Vucevic stepped down on March 19, following weeks of protests triggered by a deadly incident on Nov. 1, when a railway station canopy collapsed in the city of Novi Sad, killing 15 people. The tragedy sparked nationwide outrage and demonstrations demanding accountability and improved infrastructure safety.

Vucic has characterized the protests as an orchestrated attempt to launch a “colored revolution” aimed at destabilizing Serbia. “The second we started to oppose and fight -- not physically, but with ideas -- the ideas of a normal and decent Serbia, that second the chances for the success of the colored revolution disappeared,” he said.

Vucic also revealed plans to meet US President Donald Trump in early May to discuss trade and tariff-related matters amid growing economic uncertainty in the region.

The Serbian president also addressed regional security concerns, warning against any move to detain Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik, who is currently wanted by Interpol for allegedly violating Bosnia and Herzegovina’s constitutional order.

“Any decision to attempt to arrest Milorad Dodik, in our opinion, would be catastrophic for the entire region and certainly for Serbia,” Vucic said.