Serbian PM Responds to Critical Column: 'Therapy Prescribed Before Patient Examined'

Prime Minister Đuro Macut has issued a sharp rebuttal to a recent column by Ljubodrag Stojadinović, published on N1 Serbia, which offered a critical assessment of his government's first year in office. Macut, adopting the measured yet firm tone of a seasoned professional, characterized Stojadinović's piece as a diagnosis made before a proper examination, likening it to prescribing treatment before understanding the patient's condition.

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U medicini bismo rekli - terapija je propisana pre nego što je pacijent pregledan.

Macut directly challenged Stojadinović's portrayal of him as a mere "silent witness" or "instrument," asserting that his acceptance of the premiership was a deliberate and rational decision, driven by a desire to serve the state after a distinguished career. He pushed back against the column's attempt to "psychologize" his character, particularly the use of terms like "political testosterone," reminding the author that hormonal status is hardly a reliable indicator of state leadership capability.

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Vaš prikaz mog dolaska na mesto predsednika Vlade nesumnjivo je literarno živopisan, ali istovremeno i simptomatičan za jednu širu pojavu - potrebu da se kompleksne društvene i političke okolnosti pojednostave do karikature.

The Prime Minister also took issue with what he described as "heavy accusations" against his colleagues, lamenting a lack of evidence and distinguishing between legitimate criticism and personal insult. He argued that Stojadinović's text, in its absence of proof, veered into the territory of a pamphlet rather than a balanced analysis.

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Za razliku od Vaše interpretacije, moja odluka da prihvatim odgovornost nije bila ni posledica neznanja, ni posledica „sudbine“ u poetskom smislu, već racionalne procene da svoje znanje, iskustvo i integritet stavim u službu države, nakon višedecenijske uspešne karijere.

Reflecting on the state of the nation when he assumed office – citing streets filled with protests and empty classrooms – Macut contrasted that with the current functioning of the state and its ability to tackle significant challenges. He suggested that this progress, though difficult for some to acknowledge, is the most potent refutation of the narrative of an "ineffectual government." For us at N1 Serbia, while we uphold the right to critical commentary, we also value intellectual honesty and the presentation of evidence to support claims, a standard Macut believes was lacking in Stojadinović's column.

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U suprotnom, tekst prestaje da bude analiza i postaje pamflet.