Đuro Macut
Đuro Macut is a Serbian endocrinologist and academic serving as the prime minister of Serbia since 2025. Although not a member of any political party, Macut became one of the founding members of the Movement for the People and the State in March 2025, which is led by President Aleksandar Vučić. He is the third independent politician to be nominated to the position of prime minister.
Born in Belgrade, Macut graduated from the Faculty of Medicine in 1989, later obtaining a doctorate from the institution. He first worked as an endocrinologist and researcher, and later became a professor of internal medicine and endocrinology at the Faculty of Medicine in 2013. Politically inexperienced, Macut was nominated by Vučić as a candidate for prime minister in April 2025 and was voted in by the National Assembly of Serbia the same month. As prime minister, he initiated meetings with the University of Belgrade rector Vladan Đokić on solving the education crisis started by the anti-corruption protests and expressed support for continuing the accession of Serbia to the European Union.
Early life and education
Đuro Macut was born on 22 November 1963 in Belgrade, SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia to Serbian parents from the region of Kordun, Croatia. His father, Pavle Macut, a former Yugoslav Partisan decorated for his service during the World War II, served as a colonel in the Yugoslav People's Army. Macut attended Saint Sava Gymnasium in Belgrade and described his school days as significant for his future professional career. He graduated from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Belgrade in 1989, later obtaining a master's degree in 1995 and a doctorate in 1999.Career
After graduating, Macut became an endocrinologist and researcher, working in areas related to metabolism, neuroendocrine tumours, and polycystic ovary syndrome. He later became a professor of internal medicine and endocrinology at the Faculty of Medicine in 2013 and the director of the Clinic for Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolic Diseases at the University Clinical Centre of Serbia. He is also a visiting professor at the University of Athens and the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Skopje. In 2019, a criminal charge was filed against Macut due to the death of one of his patients. The charge was dismissed in 2020 but was soon re-sent to the Constitutional Court. As of 2025, the Court has not finished the case. After assuming the office of prime minister, Macut stopped working at the Clinical Centre. However, the Administrative Board of the National Assembly of Serbia allowed him to continue his job at the Clinical Centre in October 2025.Macut has been an active member of the European Society of Endocrinology since 2016, serving in various committees. He has chaired multiple committees within the ESE and contributed to the ESE Special Interest Group for PCOS. From 2016 to 2020, he served as the representative of the ESE Council of Affiliated Societies at the ESE Executive Committee in an ex officio capacity. In 2020, he was elected as a full member of the ESE Executive Committee and ESE Treasurer.
Macut voiced support for the Serbian Progressive Party in the 2023 Serbian parliamentary election. Despite this, he is not a member of any political party. He was featured as a speaker at the Movement for the People and the State rally in Jagodina in January 2025. Later in March, he became one of the founders of the movement. Macut voiced opposition to the student-led anti-corruption protests in Serbia that have been organised since 2024.
Prime Minister of Serbia
Following the resignation of Miloš Vučević as prime minister of Serbia, negotiations were held for the formation of the new government of Serbia. Aleksandar Vučić, the president of Serbia, nominated Macut as the mandate holder for the prime minister of Serbia to the National Assembly of Serbia on 6 April 2025. He is the third independent politician to be nominated for the position, after Mirko Cvetković and Ana Brnabić. The composition of his cabinet was announced on 14 April; his deputies are Siniša Mali, Ivica Dačić, and Adrijana Mesarović. His government is also composed of several independents affiliated with NPZD. Ana Brnabić, the president of the National Assembly of Serbia, called a session for 15 April, to elect the new government. During the session, Macut presented his exposé. Macut's cabinet was elected on 16 April, with 153 votes in favour.Political scientist Dušan Spasojević and analyst Cvijetin Milivojević argued that Macut would lack autonomy as prime minister on decision-making. Dejan Bursać, an associate at the Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory of the University of Belgrade, also argued that despite the inclusion of several academics in Macut's cabinet, the government would still be headed by SNS due to them retaining positions on key ministries. Reuters reported that despite his ceremonial role, Vučić would have a significant influence in the government. However, in July 2025, political analyst Dragomir Anđelković said "that is not ready to be Vučić's cannon fodder".
Tenure
2025
Macut made his first foreign trip on 26 April, visiting the Vatican City, where he attended the funeral of Pope Francis. After his return to Serbia, he met with Marta Kos, the European Commissioner for Enlargement, on 29 April, with whom he discussed the accession of Serbia to the European Union. In early May, he met António Costa, the president of the European Council, while later that month, he met with Kaja Kallas, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, with whom he discussed Serbia-European Union relations. In June, he met Milorad Dodik, the president of Republika Srpska, Porfirije, the patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church, and Mostafa Madbouly, the prime minister of Egypt, with whom he discussed trade relations. In August, Serbia and Austria signed an agreement establishing further economic cooperation. In October, he met Hristijan Mickoski, the prime minister of North Macedonia, and the President of the European Commission Ursula Von Der Leyen during her visit to Serbia. Macut maintained the position that Serbia is still interested in EU accession.In order to resolve the education crisis that began during the student-led anti-corruption protests, Macut initiated meetings with Vladan Đokić, the rector of University of Belgrade. Their first meeting was held on 22 April. After the meeting, the rectorate of the University of Belgrade affirmed their position that the crisis would end with the fulfilment of student demands. Their meetings continued into June. Macut and Đokić reached an agreement regarding the financing and activities of the University of Belgrade on 10 June. However, Đokić has said that three more demands were not met. Vučević has criticised the meetings between Macut and Đokić, due to Đokić allegedly provoking violence at a 28 June protest. The crisis was later resolved, with the new academic year beginning on 1 November 2025. At the end of 2025, Macut hailed his meetings with University representatives as one of his major tasks as prime minister.
The government of Serbia adopted proposed changes to the Law on Textbooks in July; Macut described it as a victory for "national responsibility and the sovereign right of Serbia to educate its children according to its own values". The Association of Textbook Publishers, an association of major publishers in Serbia, alleged that the proposed changes would create a monopoly on the textbook market. On his first 100 days as prime minister, Macut highlighted the Law on Textbooks as well as infrastructure investments for the Pakovraće–Požega highway as his accomplishments. Economists noted that while Macut highlighted new economic measures during his exposé, he did not introduce any new reforms. Despite this, the minimum wage and wages were increased during his first 100 days. In September, Vučić expressed disappointment with the work of ministers in Macut's government.
Macut took part in the 2025 Western Balkans Summit in London, meeting with UK prime minister Keir Starmer. In early November, he traveled to Shanghai, where he met with Li Qiang, the premier of China, and Chinese business representatives, while a month later his government formed the Council for Family and Demography. In late December, Macut held talks with representatives of dairies and retail chains.
Political positions
During his tenure as prime minister of Serbia, Macut expressed support for continuing the accession of Serbia to the European Union. In November 2025, he said that Serbia is close to obtaining EU membership, while describing his government as pro-European. He also supports strengthening relations with China, Israel, Palestine, Iran, and Denmark. He supports the organisation of the Expo 2027 project.In an interview with Russian state-owned news agency TASS, Macut said that "we cannot accept which is contrary to our traditional and Christian values". He also expressed interest in moving closer to BRICS and an opposition to sending weapons to Ukraine. Macut expressed support for cooperation with the International Monetary Fund. He also supports fighting against corruption, as well as Serbia's transition towards a green economy and investment in environmental projects.
In late September 2025, Macut welcomed the return of general Nebojša Pavković to Serbia. His statement was criticised by the Youth Initiative for Human Rights non-governmental organisation because of Pavković's war crimes conviction.