In Serbia, a professor of medicine has become the new prime minister. What you need to know

Djuro Matsut became the new Prime Minister of Serbia. He is a professor of medicine and has not been actively involved in politics until recently. Matsut did not include the pro-Russian politician Alexander Vulin in the government, which is why he is called a compromise figure who will suit the European Union. What is known about the new head of the Cabinet of Ministers is in the Izvestia article.

What is known about the new Prime Minister of Serbia

• Most of Matsuta's biography is related to medicine. He graduated from the Medical Faculty of the University of Belgrade and received his doctorate in 1999, specializing in research in the field of endocrinology. Since 2013, he has held the position of professor at his native university. As a scientist, Matsut is an expert on polycystic ovary syndrome and neuroendocrine tumors. From 2020 to 2024, he was a member of the executive committee of the European Society of Endocrinology and served as the organization's treasurer.

Clinical case: an endocrinologist may become the new Prime Minister of Serbia

The main task of the future head of government is to reduce tensions in the country.

• In 2023, Matsut was included in the list of public figures who supported the Serbian Progressive Party, founded by President Aleksandar Vucic, in the parliamentary elections. In January 2025, he spoke at a rally dedicated to the founding of the Movement for the People and the State, an association of a number of parties in support of Vucic. Later, he became one of the founders of the new movement.

Matsut is not officially a member of any party. At the same time, his relatives have connections with the leadership of the Serbian Progressive Party.

• On April 6, Vucic announced that he had nominated Matsuta as the new Prime Minister and entrusted him with the formation of a new cabinet. 10 days later, he was officially appointed head of government and became the fourth politician in this post since March 2024.

Matsuta's Tasks

• When Vucic first announced his intention to appoint Matsuta as Prime minister, he listed the tasks that the new government would have to solve. These included resisting external pressure, resolving the issue of US tariffs, and accelerating the country's accession to the European Union, provided stable relations with Russia are maintained.

• According to experts, Matsut has become a compromise figure who will be accepted by Serbian society, taking into account the mass protests that have been taking place in the country in recent months. Last year, he attracted attention when he urged students to leave the rallies and return to their studies.

Matsuta can also be described as a technocratic figure who will not provoke opposition from within the ruling coalition and from the parliamentary opposition. He is not a member of the presidential party and will not be associated with Vucic's team, which the residents of the country are protesting against.

• Experts believe that the new government will not be ready to resolve the key issue for Serbia regarding the status of Kosovo. Belgrade does not recognize its independence, as required by the European Union, as such an action would lead to the political death of the current authorities.

The first permutations

• During the formation of the new government, the main surprise was the absence of Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Vulin. Previously, he headed the Ministries of Defense and Internal Affairs. Vulin is considered a pro-Russian politician and has repeatedly visited Moscow on official visits, and the United States imposed sanctions on him in 2023.

• Experts believe that Vulin's removal occurred under pressure from the European Union, and was not an initiative of the Serbian authorities. Shortly before the government reshuffle, the politician himself announced that European officials had imposed sanctions against him and banned him from entering EU countries. In addition, European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos stated that Brussels does not want to see Vulin in the new cabinet.

Rally in response to the rally: a large-scale rally in support of the authorities was held in Serbia

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• Despite this, analysts consider the renewed Serbian government to be quite friendly to Russia. Instead of Vulin, a new official may be appointed who will be responsible for maintaining contacts and establishing ties with Moscow.

During the preparation of the material, Izvestia interviewed:

• Program Coordinator of the Russian Council on International Affairs, Milan Lazovich;
• Ekaterina Entina, Professor at the Higher School of Economics, Head of the Department of Black Sea and Mediterranean Studies at the Institute of Europe of the Russian Academy of Sciences;
• Vladimir Bruter, a political scientist at the International Institute for Humanitarian and Political Studies.