The Serbian Parliament has approved Professor Đuro Macut as head of the government by a majority vote, and adopted his proposed programme and list of ministers, Serbian National Assembly Speaker Ana Brnabic said.
According to her, out of 199 MPs who took part in the voting, 153 MPs voted in favour, while 46 voted against.
“Since 153 MPs voted for the government programme, as well as for the proposal on the candidate for the presidency and the composition of the government members, I state that the National Assembly has approved the government programme and elected the government in the proposed composition,” Brnabic said.
Macut presented to the MPs a list of 30 ministers, a number of whom were already members of the previous cabinet, led by the resigned Miloš Vucevic.
Outlining the programme of the new government, Macut said that Serbia is tired of divisions and blockades, and that it is necessary to work for the harmonisation of society, while his main task is the return to normal functioning of universities and schools, i.e. the end of student protests.
And President Aleksandar Vučić, congratulating his fellow citizens on the new government, wished it to “free the country from terror and return it to the path of success.”
Parliamentary changes
Aleksandar Vučić repeatedly assured that the government would be substantially renewed and that many of its members would lose their seats. However, the new cabinet has only been renewed by a third, and many key ministers have retained their posts.
Socialist Party leader Ivica Dačić remained as deputy prime minister and head of the Interior Ministry. The Foreign Ministry will continue to be headed by former ambassador to the US Marko Đurić, while the Defence Ministry will be headed by Bratislav Gašić. Both are considered close to the president, as is Siniša Mali, who will retain his leadership of the Finance Ministry as first deputy prime minister.
The main surprise was the absence of the incumbent Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin in the new cabinet.
Vučić nominated Macut to head the government on the evening of April 6 during his address to the nation. The politician is not a member of any party, but shortly before his nomination he began to speak at rallies of the pro-government organisation People’s Movement for the State and later joined its leadership.
