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| Serbia to have first gay prime minister as Ana Brnabic is chosen | Serbia to have first gay prime minister as Ana Brnabic is chosen |
| (about 14 hours later) | |
| The president of Serbia has nominated a gay woman to be his prime minister in a double first for the deeply conservative Balkan state. | The president of Serbia has nominated a gay woman to be his prime minister in a double first for the deeply conservative Balkan state. |
| Ana Brnabic was chosen by the new President, Aleksandar Vucic. Her approval by parliament will be largely a formality, as his party and its allies hold an overwhelming majority. | Ana Brnabic was chosen by the new President, Aleksandar Vucic. Her approval by parliament will be largely a formality, as his party and its allies hold an overwhelming majority. |
| Just a few years ago, the appointment would have been unthinkable. | Just a few years ago, the appointment would have been unthinkable. |
| But EU hopeful Serbia can present it as proof of increasing tolerance. | But EU hopeful Serbia can present it as proof of increasing tolerance. |
| Ms Brnabic is not only Serbia's first openly gay PM, but also the first woman in that post. | |
| "I believe that Brnabic has professional and personal qualities to be prime minister," Mr Vucic told reporters, "and that along with other ministers she will work on improvement and progress of our Serbia." | |
| He made no mention of her sexuality. | |
| However, the leader of one of the smaller parties in the president's coalition, Dragan Markovic Palma of Unified Serbia, said Ms Brnabic was "not my prime minister". | However, the leader of one of the smaller parties in the president's coalition, Dragan Markovic Palma of Unified Serbia, said Ms Brnabic was "not my prime minister". |
| He said recently that the new prime minister "should be a family man who knows what children are", Reuters news agency reported. | |
| Ms Brnabic served for nearly a year as minister of public administration, where she tried to cut red tape and modernise aspects of the administration. | |
| Serving her country was the "greatest honour", she told public broadcaster RTS. | |
| "I will work in a devoted and responsible way with great love and honesty," she said. She has previously expressed the hope that people would see beyond her sexual orientation, saying: "Why does it matter?" | |
| Ms Brnabic will join a small number of gay prime ministers to lead governments in Europe, including Leo Varadkar in the Republic of Ireland and Xavier Bettel in Luxembourg. | Ms Brnabic will join a small number of gay prime ministers to lead governments in Europe, including Leo Varadkar in the Republic of Ireland and Xavier Bettel in Luxembourg. |
| Iceland had an openly gay prime minister, Johanna Sigurdardottir, in 2009-2013. | |
| The role of prime minister in this administration is likely to be largely symbolic, as President Vucic will remain Serbia's most powerful figure, the BBC's Guy De Launey reports from Belgrade. | |
| But in this case, the symbolism carries real weight, he adds. | But in this case, the symbolism carries real weight, he adds. |
| Belgrade's Gay Pride march was banned for three years in succession on grounds of public safety after far-right protesters attacked the event in 2010. | Belgrade's Gay Pride march was banned for three years in succession on grounds of public safety after far-right protesters attacked the event in 2010. |
| It was revived in 2014 amid huge security, including special forces and armoured cars. | It was revived in 2014 amid huge security, including special forces and armoured cars. |