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World|politics|June 30, 2017 / 10:40 AM
Serbia lawmakers elect 1st female and 1st openly gay PM

AKIPRESS.COM - Serbian lawmakers elected Ana Brnabic as prime minister on June 29, making history by choosing both the conservative Balkan nation's first female prime minister and its first openly gay leader, ABC News reported.

Parliament voted 157-55 to approve the government of the 41-year-old Brnabic and she and her ministers were sworn in.

Serbia's powerful President Aleksandar Vucic nominated the Western-educated Brnabic for the post two weeks ago amid opposition from hard-line nationalists.

Vucic's move was widely seen as an attempt to calm Western concerns that Serbia is getting too close to Russia, including having enhanced military cooperation and ties, despite its proclaimed goal of joining the European Union.

Brnabic has said Serbia's EU integration will be a priority along with maintaining good relations with Russia, China and the United States. But her government includes openly anti-Western ministers who are staunchly against joining the EU.

Brnabic, a business marketing expert who previously served in Vucic's government as the local administration minister, has no party affiliation and has a record of working in the non-government sector, including with USAID.

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