Branko Ružić

Branko Ružić (; born 14 December 1975) is a Serbian politician who served as the minister of education from 2020 to 2023. A former member of the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS), he previously served as minister without portfolio in charge of European Integration from 2013 to 2014, as minister of public administration and local self-government from 2017 to 2020, and as first deputy prime minister of Serbia from 2020 to 2022.

On 7 May 2023, Ružić announced his resignation as Minister of Education and was officially dismissed by the National Assembly on 29 May.

Education and career Ružić was born on 14 December 1975 in Belgrade, SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia. He spent his childhood in Australia, due to his father's status as a diplomat.

He graduated from the University of Belgrade and served dean student of the faculty from 1996 to 1999. He won the elections in the first round and was sworn as the President of Serbia on 31 May 2017. Weeks later, he gave mandate to Ana Brnabić to form the governmental cabinet. On 29 June 2017, the cabinet of Ana Brnabić was formed, with Ružić being named the Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government. Numerous opposition parties called for his resignation, including the Youth Initiative for Human Rights, and the Independent Union of Educators of Serbia. He resigned from his position as minister of education on 7 May. The National Assembly officially dismissed him on 29 May. He was appointed advisor to Ivica Dačić in late May.

Political positions Earlier in his career, he was as a staunch defender of Slobodan Milošević.

Personal life Ružić and his wife Ana have two children, son Milutin and daughter Elena.