Belgrade: The Serbian parliament confirmedDjuro Macut, a medical professor with limited political experience, as the Balkan country’s new prime minister in a vote on Wednesday.
As expected, the 61-year-old - previously little known in political circles - was elected by a wide parliamentary majority. According to the Belgrade news agency Tanjug, 153 of the 199 lawmakers present voted in favour of the new government, while 46 voted against and 51 were absent.
President Aleksandar Vucic said after the vote that he hoped Macut would “free us from terror,” a reference to the street protests against his government that have been going on for more than five months. Vucic said that the demonstrations have led to a decline in domestic and foreign investment in Serbia, and alleged that the protesters had planned a violent takeover.
In January, the previous prime minister Milos Vucevic announced his resignation, which was widely seen as a tactical move. Vucic is now hoping the appointment of a new prime minister will help quell what many see as an unprecedented political crisis. (DPA)
