IMPULSE Keeping Focus: Reporting development in Serbia Protests in Serbia enter a new phase as students officially demand snap elections Key points: ɂ Students officially demand parliamentary elections and are preparing an electoral list, relationship with opposition parties remains unclear ɂ New procedure for REM Council appointment launched after a two-week student blockade of the national broadcaster ɂ Serbian president Vučić controversially takes part in the 9 May Victory Day parade after repeated warnings from the EU, turning to both Trump and Putin as pressure from the EU grows New government makes no impact on political dynamics The government of Prime Minister Đuro Macut was sworn in on 16 April 2025, supported by the same coalition which voted for the previous government of Miloš Vučević, led by the Serbian Progressive Party(SNS) and consisting of a total of 155 MPs. 1 Two thirds of the ministers from the previous cabinet remained in the new one. Among the newcomers were several nominally independent experts close to President Aleksandar Vu čić. Some picks were particularly controversial, including the new Minister of Information Boris Bratina, a former member of far-right political organizations, and Minister of Education Dejan Vuk Stanković, known as a pro­government political commentator who advocated the use of force against student blockades. Minister of European Integration Tanja Miščević, an independent expert, was replaced by SNS member Nemanja Starović. 2 1 One MP from a small coalition partner of SNS, Healthy Serbia, who voted for Vučević’s government in 2024, this time defected to the opposition. 2  The choice of Nemanja Starović was controversial due to the fact that he was one of the founding members of the Centre for Social Stability, a GONGO supporting the ruling Serbian Progressive Party(SNS). In recent months, this organizations consistently promoted anti-Western narratives regarding the ongoing protests and targeted government critics. Starović is no longer formally associated with this organization. Protests in Serbia enter a new phase as students officially demand snap elections 1