Milan Škrbić (Serbian Cyrillic: Милaн Шкрбић; born 12 February 1960) is a politician in Serbia. He was a member of the National Assembly of Serbia from 2004 to 2012, serving with the far-right Serbian Radical Party (Srpska radikalna stranka, SRS). He later left the Radicals, joined the Serbian Progressive Party (Srpska napredna stranka, SNS), and served as the mayor of Apatin from 2017 to 2020. He is now the president (i.e, speaker) of the Apatin municipal assembly.

Early life and private career edit

Škrbić was born in Apatin, in what was then the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina in the People's Republic of Serbia, Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia. He graduated in economics, worked at the Apatin shipyard (where he led the procurement sector from 1993 to 2001) and was the co-owner and director of the company Daiva Inženjering Komerc for twelve years.[1]

Politician edit

Early candidacies edit

Škrbić became politically active in 1991. He ran unsuccessfully for the Apatin municipal assembly in the May 1992, December 1992, 1996, and 2000 local elections. He was the Radical Party's candidate for Apatin's first division in the 2000 Vojvodina provincial election and was defeated. He also appeared in the third and final position on the party's electoral list for Sombor in the concurrent 2000 Yugoslavian parliamentary election; the party did not win any seats in the division.[2]

The 2000 Yugoslavian election saw the downfall of Slobodan Milošević's government, a watershed moment in Serbian and Yugoslavian politics. A new Serbian parliamentary election was held later the year, with the entire country counted as a single electoral division. Škrbić received the ninety-eighth position on the Radical Party's electoral list.[3] The list won twenty-three seats, and he was not assigned a mandate. (From 2000 to 2011, mandates in Serbian elections were awarded to successful political parties or coalitions rather than individual candidates, and it was common practice for the mandates to be assigned out of numerical order. Škrbić could have been awarded a mandate despite his list position, but he was not.)[4]

Parliamentarian edit

Škrbić was given the seventy-fifth position on the SRS's list in the 2003 Serbian parliamentary election. The party won eighty-two mandates, and this time he was included in his party's delegation when the assembly convened in January 2004.[5][6][7] Although the Radicals won more seats than any other party, they fell well short of a majority and ultimately served in opposition. In his first term, Škrbić served on the finance committee and the committee for petitions and proposals.[8]

Serbia introduced both the direct election of mayors and proportional representation for municipal assembly elections in the 2004 local election cycle. Škrbić was the Radical Party's candidate for mayor of Apatin and was defeated in the first round; he also led the party's list and was elected to the municipal assembly when it won seven mandates. The Radicals joined a local government led by the Socialist Party of Serbia (Socijalistička partija Srbije, SPS) after the election, and Škrbić was appointed as deputy mayor.[9] He also ran for the Vojvodina assembly again in the concurrent 2004 provincial election and was defeated in the redistributed Apatin division. The direct election of mayors proved to be a short-lived experiment and was abandoned in 2008.

Škrbić received the fiftieth position on the SRS's list for the 2007 parliamentary election and was given a second mandate when the list won eighty-one seats.[10][11] The Radicals were once again the largest group in the assembly after the election but still did not have a majority and remained in opposition. Škrbić served on the assembly committee on the Serb diaspora and the committee on labour, veterans' affairs, and social issues.[12]

Another Serbian parliamentary election was held in May 2008 after the breakup of the country's governing alliance. Škrbić appeared in the sixty-first position on the SRS list and was once again given a mandate when the list won seventy-eight seats.[13][14] While the outcome of the election was inconclusive, an alliance led by the Democratic Party (Demokratska stranka, DS) ultimately formed a coalition with the SPS, and the Radicals continued in opposition. Škrbić also led the Radical list for Apatin once again in the concurrent 2008 local elections; the list won eight seats, the Radicals remained in a local coalition dominated by the Socialists, and Škrbić was named as speaker of the assembly.[15][16]

The Radical Party experienced a serious split in late 2008, with several members joining the more moderate Serbian Progressive Party under the leadership of Tomislav Nikolić and Aleksandar Vučić. Škrbić initially remained with the Radicals. In his third parliamentary term, he served as a member of the finance committee and the privatization committee.[17]

Serbia's electoral system was reformed in 2011, such that mandates were awarded to candidates on successful lists in numerical order. Škrbić received the seventeenth position on the Radical Party's list.[18] Seriously weakened by the 2008 split, the party did not cross the electoral threshold to win assembly representation.

Municipal politics since 2012 edit

Škrbić led the SRS list for Apatin in the 2012 Serbian local elections and was re-elected when the list won three mandates.[19][20] He resigned from the municipal assembly on 13 June 2012.[21] He later left the Radicals and joined the Progressives.

He appeared in the eighth position on the Progressive Party's list for Apatin in the 2016 local elections and was elected when the list won twelve seats, in the process achieving a narrow victory over the long-governing Socialistss.[22][23] Following the election, he was chosen for another term as assembly president.[24]

Radivoj Sekulić, who had been chosen as Apatin's mayor following the 2016 vote, stood down from the position in January 2017. Škrbić was selected by the assembly as his replacement and served in the role for the next three years.[25]

In the 2020 Serbian local elections, Škrbić was promoted to the third position on the Progressive list and was re-elected when the list won a majority victory with twenty out of twenty-nine seats.[26][27] He was chosen for another term as assembly president following the vote.[28]

Electoral record edit

Provincial (Vojvodina) edit

2004 Vojvodina assembly election
Apatin (constituency seat) - First and Second Rounds
[29]
Candidate Party or Coalition Votes % Votes %
Dr. Živorad Smiljanić Socialist Party of Serbia 3,049 33.90 5,462 62.09
Saša Dobrijević Coalition: Democratic PartyBoris Tadić 2,241 24.91 3,335 37.91
Milan Škrbić Serbian Radical Party 1,564 17.39
Milan Dražić Democratic Party of Serbia 1,404 15.61
Slavko Ivanišević Citizens' Group: For the Municipality of Apatin–Dr. Milka Zorić 353 3.92
Branko Popadić Strength of Serbia Movement 229 2.55
Đorđe Manojlović G17 Plus 155 1.72
Total valid votes 8,995 100 8,797 100
Invalid ballots 377 121
Total votes casts 9,372 36.11 8,918 33.09
2000 Vojvodina assembly election
Novi Sad VII (constituency seat)
[30]
Candidate Party or Coalition Result
Milan Žigić Democratic Opposition of Serbia elected
Milan Škrbić Serbian Radical Party
other candidates

Municipal (Apatin) edit

2004 Municipality of Apatin local election: Mayor of Apatin
CandidatePartyFirst roundSecond round
Votes%Votes%
Živorad SmiljanićSocialist Party of Serbia5,68864.32
information missing3,15535.68
Milan ŠkrbićSerbian Radical Party
other candidates
Total8,843100.00
Source: [31]
December 2000 Apatin municipal election
Municipal Assembly of Apatin, Division 5 (First-past-the-post)
Candidate Party or Coalition Votes %
Drago Ćirić Democratic Opposition of Serbia 227 45.58
Božo Korać Socialist Party of SerbiaYugoslav Left (Affiliation: Yugoslav Left) (incumbent) 173 34.74
Milan Škrbić Serbian Radical Party 98 19.68
Total valid votes 498 100
December 1996 Apatin municipal election
Municipal Assembly of Apatin, Division 13 - First and Second Round Results
Candidate Party or Coalition Votes % Votes %
Đuro Dražić Socialist Party of Serbia 223 40.11 242 61.27
Milan Škrbić Serbian Radical Party 131 23.56 153 38.73
Jovica Uzelac Zajedno 98 17.63
Milan Majstorović Citizens' Group 59 10.61
Petar Pribičević Yugoslav Left 45 8.09
Total valid votes 556 100 395 100
December 1992 Apatin municipal election
Municipal Assembly of Apatin, Division 13 - First and Second Round Results
Candidate Party or Coalition Votes % Votes %
Velimir Diklić (incumbent) Socialist Party of Serbia 213 33.39 236 63.96
Milan Škrbić Serbian Radical Party 145 22.73 133 36.04
Sveto Bajić United Serbian Opposition 122 19.12
Vojislav Sunajko Citizens' Group 108 16.93
Mira Blanuša League of Communists – Movement for Yugoslavia 50 7.84
Total valid votes 638 100 369 100
May 1992 Apatin municipal election
Municipal Assembly of Apatin, Division 13 - First and Second Round Results
Candidate Party or Coalition Votes Votes
Velimir Diklić Socialist Party of Serbia 261 283
Milan Škrbić Serbian Radical Party 231 not listed
Mira Blanuša League of Communists – Movement for Yugoslavia not listed

References edit

  1. ^ ПРЕДСЕДНИК СКУПШТИНЕ ОПШТИНЕ АПАТИН, Municipal Assembly of Apatin, accessed 15 February 2022.
  2. ^ "КАНДИДАТИ СРПСКА РАДИКАЛНА СТРАНКА ЗА ИЗБОР САВЕЗНИХ ПОСЛАНИІКА У ВЕЋЕ ГРАЂАНА САВЕЗНЕ СКУПШТИНЕ, Velika Srbija [Radical Party publication], September 2000, p. 3; ИЗБОРИ 2000: ВЕЋЕ РЕПУБЛИКА И ВЕЋЕ ГРАЂАНА САВЕЗНЕ СКУПШТИНЕ, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Department of Statistics (2000), p. 44.
  3. ^ Избори за народне посланике Народне скупштине одржани 23. децембра 2000. године и 10. јануара 2001. године – ИЗБОРНЕ ЛИСТЕ (1 Српска радикална странка – др Војислав Шешељ), Republika Srbija - Republička izborna komisija, accessed 2 July 2021.
  4. ^ Serbia's Law on the Election of Representatives (2000) stipulated that parliamentary mandates would be awarded to electoral lists (Article 80) that crossed the electoral threshold (Article 81), that mandates would be given to candidates appearing on the relevant lists (Article 83), and that the submitters of the lists were responsible for selecting their parliamentary delegations within ten days of the final results being published (Article 84). See Law on the Election of Representatives, Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia, No. 35/2000, made available via LegislationOnline, accessed 28 February 2017.
  5. ^ Избори за народне посланике Народне скупштине одржани 28. децембра 2003. године – ИЗБОРНЕ ЛИСТЕ (2. СРПСКА РАДИКАЛНА СТРАНКА - др ВОЈИСЛАВ ШЕШЕЉ) Republika Srbija - Republička izborna komisija, accessed 2 July 2021.
  6. ^ "Skupština čeka demokrate", Glas javnosti, 13 January 2004, accessed 15 February 2022.
  7. ^ PRVA SEDNICA, 27.01.2004., Otvoreni Parlament, accessed 15 February 2022.
  8. ^ ДЕТАЉИ О НАРОДНОМ ПОСЛАНИКУ – ШКРБИЋ, МИЛАН, "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 7 January 2007. Retrieved 16 February 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link), National Assembly of Serbia, accessed 15 February 2022.
  9. ^ STAREŠINE OPŠTINSKE UPRAVE APATIN, "Dobrodošli na sajt Opštinske uprave Apatin". Archived from the original on 9 November 2007. Retrieved 16 February 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link), National Assembly of Serbia, accessed 15 February 2022. This was also the only regular electoral cycle since World War II in which mayors were directly elected. Online sources do not clarify if Škrbić was the Radical Party's mayoral candidate.
  10. ^ Избори за народне посланике Народне скупштине одржани 21. јануара и 8. фебрауара 2007. године – ИЗБОРНЕ ЛИСТЕ (4 Српска радикална странка - др Војислав Шешељ), Republika Srbija - Republička izborna komisija, accessed 2 July 2021.
  11. ^ Избори за народне посланике Народне скупштине одржани 11. маја 2008. године – ИЗБОРНЕ ЛИСТЕ (4 СРПСКА РАДИКАЛНА СТРАНКА - Др ВОЈИСЛАВ ШЕШЕЉ), National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, accessed 15 February 2022.
  12. ^ ДЕТАЉИ О НАРОДНОМ ПОСЛАНИКУ – ШКРБИЋ, МИЛАН, "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 5 February 2008. Retrieved 16 February 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link), National Assembly of Serbia, accessed 15 February 2022.
  13. ^ Избори за народне посланике Народне скупштине одржани 11. маја 2008. године – ИЗБОРНЕ ЛИСТЕ (4 СРПСКА РАДИКАЛНА СТРАНКА - Др ВОЈИСЛАВ ШЕШЕЉ), Republika Srbija - Republička izborna komisija, accessed 2 July 2021.
  14. ^ 11 June 2008 legislature, National Assembly of Serbia, accessed 5 March 2017.
  15. ^ SASTAV OPŠTINSKE SKUPŠTINE, "Opština Apatin - Skupština opštine". Archived from the original on 18 April 2012. Retrieved 16 February 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link), Municipality of Apatin, accessed 15 February 2022.
  16. ^ FUNKCIONERI OPŠTINSKE UPRAVE APATIN, "Opština Apatin - Funkcioneri". Archived from the original on 26 April 2012. Retrieved 16 February 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link), Municipality of Apatin, accessed 15 February 2022.
  17. ^ ДЕТАЉИ О НАРОДНОМ ПОСЛАНИКУ – ШКРБИЋ, МИЛАН, "Narodna skupstina Republike Srbije". Archived from the original on 15 September 2008. Retrieved 16 February 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link), National Assembly of Serbia, accessed 15 February 2022.
  18. ^ Избори за народне посланике Народне скупштине, 6. мај 2012. године – ИЗБОРНЕ ЛИСТЕ (2 СРПСКА РАДИКАЛНА СТРАНКА - ДР ВОЈИСЛАВ ШЕШЕЉ), Republika Srbija - Republička izborna komisija, accessed 28 September 2021.
  19. ^ Službeni List (Opštine Apatin), Volume 48 Number 3 (25 April 2012), p. 76.
  20. ^ Službeni List (Opštine Apatin), Volume 48 Number 4 (7 May 2012), p. 96.
  21. ^ Službeni List (Opštine Apatin), Volume 48 Number 7 (13 June 2012), p. 120.
  22. ^ Službeni List (Opštine Apatin), Volume 52 Number 5 (15 April 2016), p. 271.
  23. ^ Službeni List (Opštine Apatin), Volume 52 Number 6 (11 May 2016), p. 297.
  24. ^ "RADIVOJ SEKULIĆ NOVI PREDSEDNIK OPŠTINE APATIN", 025 Apatin, 23 May 2016, accessed 14 February 2022.
  25. ^ "MILAN ŠKRBIĆ PRVI ČOVEK OPŠTINE APATIN, DRAGAN RASTOVIĆ NOVI PREDSEDNIK SKUPŠTINE", 25 Apatin, 13 January 2017, accessed 14 February 2022.
  26. ^ Službeni List (Opštine Apatin), Volume 56 Number 10 (10 June 2020), p. 64.
  27. ^ Službeni List (Opštine Apatin), Volume 56 Number 11 (30 June 2020), p. 75.
  28. ^ ПРЕДСЕДНИК СКУПШТИНЕ ОПШТИНЕ АПАТИН, Municipal Assembly of Apatin, accessed 15 February 2022.
  29. ^ Source: Резултати избора за посланике у Скупштину Аутономне Покрајине Војводине по већинском изборном систему (2004) (3 АПАТИН), Provincial Election Commission, Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, Republic of Serbia, accessed 30 July 2021.
  30. ^ Извештај о укупним резултатима избора за посланике у Скупштину Аутономне Покрајине Војводине одржаних 24. септембра и 8. октобра 2000. године, Provincial Election Commission, Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, Republic of Serbia, accessed 29 July 2021; Velika Srbija [Radical Party publication], Volume 11 Number 1201 (Belgrade, September 2000), p. 6.
  31. ^ ЛОКАЛНИ ИЗБОРИ: Председници општина и градова, изабрани на локалним изборима, 2004., "REPUBLICKI ZAVOD ZA STATISTIKU - Republike Srbije". Archived from the original on 2010-10-03. Retrieved 2022-05-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link), Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia, 3 October 2010, accessed 12 July 2021. Škrbić's identity as the Radical Party's candidate is confirmed in 'Velika Srbija [Serbian Radical Party publication], Volume 15 Number 1838 (September 2004), p. 16. The fact that he did not make it to the second round is confirmed in Velika Srbija [Serbian Radical Party publication], Volume 15 Number 1956 (September 2004), pp. 16-17.