The 41-year-old who has never been part of a political party has risen from obscurity and is working to change Belgrade’s image

The appointment of Ana Brnabić as Serbia’s prime minister aged 41 was accompanied by the sound of glass ceilings being shattered all around her.

Not only is she the first woman to take on the role, Brnabić is gay and has achieved high office without being a member of a political party.

Giving her first interview to a foreign newspaper after a month in the job, she said: “Serbia is changing and changing fast, and if you will, I am part of that change, but I do not want to be branded ‘Serbia’s gay PM’. The message we need to send is about competence, professionalism and trustworthiness.”

Brnabić is dedicated to transforming the image and reality of Serbia, working punishing hours with a largely young team on administrative reforms to prepare it for eventual EU membership. “We are a country that does not have time to lose,” she said.

See at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jul/28/ana-brnabic-serbia-prime-minister-interview