Zoran Živković (politician)
Zoran Živković Зоран Живковић | |
|---|---|
| 7th Prime Minister of Serbia | |
| In office March 18, 2003 – March 3, 2004 | |
| Preceded by | Zoran Đinđić |
| Succeeded by | Vojislav Koštunica |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 22, 1960 Niš, FPR Yugoslavia |
| Nationality | Serb |
| Political party | Democratic Party |
Zoran Živković (Template:Lang-sr) is a former Prime Minister of Serbia who replaced assassinated Prime Minister Zoran Đinđić in March 2003. He was born on December 22, 1960 in Niš where he finished high-school Bora Stanković. Živković received a community college (viša škola) diploma in Economics in Belgrade and worked as entrepreneur before engaging into politics. Zoran Živković is married to Biserka, a lawyer and a political activist. The couple lives in Niš with their two children, Milena and Marko.
Political life
Zoran Živković entered politics in 1992 by joining the Democratic Party (DS) and became a member of Serbian Parliament and a party deputy leader. In late 1996 Živković lead the civil protests of the opposition against the electoral fraud and became a first democratic mayor of Niš in 1997. In 2000 Živković contributed greatly to the mobilization of the democratic opposition of Serbia in removal of Slobodan Milošević from power. Shortly after he became a federal Minister of Interior of FR Yugoslavia until 2003 and the constitutional formation of State Union of Serbia and Montenegro.
After the assassination of Zoran Đinđić he decisively lead the reformist government through the state of martial law and offensive on cracking down crime and corruption, but suffering blows under controversial arrests, government scandals, and unrest within the coalition. Weakening public support saw Živković stepping down from the Democratic Party leadership before the Parliamentary elections in Serbia in 2004, allowing Boris Tadić to emerge as a new leader.
After eleven months heading the government of Serbia, Živković was pushed to the sidelines within DS as he never really got on with the new party leadership under Boris Tadić. Živković formed a non-governmental organization Milenijum, Center for Development of Civil Society (Centar za razvoj građanskog društva 'Milenijum') as a channel for his desire to "modify the consciousness of Serbian citizens related to the need of involving each individual into ongoing process of changes". During this period Živković was often linked in the media to another Democratic Party outcast Čedomir Jovanović who was vocally critical of the DS direction under new leadership, but the two never really formed any kind of common political plan of action. Regarding his involvement with the Democratic Party Živković claimed that he is "only a member" in spite of some views who saw his potential comeback to the party executive board.
During this period, Živković was still present in public life, making occasional appearances on political talk-shows, commenting on his past days with Zoran Đinđić and criticizing the lack of reformist agenda in the government of Vojislav Koštunica. In personal life, he is also an avid wine enthusiast and a passionate driver.
Disappointed that the Democratic Party didn't include him on their 250-person candidate list for the Serbian parliamentary elections on 21 January 2007, he left politics altogether.
He owns successful winery Kuća vina Živković.[1]
References
External links
- Kuća vina Živković
- BBC Profile of Zoran Živković (2003)
- Center for Development of Civil Society - MilenijuM
- Zoran Živković collected news and commentary at The New York Times
- Živković makes a keynote address to the Serbian Parliament - March 18, 2003
- CNN: Djindjic ally elected new Serb PM - March 18, 2003