Miroslav Škoro
Miroslav Škoro (pronounced [mîroslaʋ ʃkǒːro]; born 29 July 1962) is a Croatian musician, television host and politician. He is the founder and the first president of the conservative Homeland Movement party, which he established in February 2020 and led until July 2021. As a musician, Škoro is best known for using the traditional Slavonian tamburica instrument in most of his compositions.
Miroslav Škoro | |
|---|---|
| Deputy Speaker of the Croatian Parliament | |
| In office 22 July 2020 – 20 August 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Božo Petrov |
| Succeeded by | Davorko Vidović |
| Member of Parliament | |
| Assumed office 22 July 2020 | |
| Constituency | II electoral district |
| In office 11 January 2008 – 19 December 2008 | |
| Succeeded by | Berislav Rončević |
| Constituency | IV electoral district |
| Member of the Zagreb Assembly | |
| Assumed office 17 June 2021 | |
| President of the Homeland Movement | |
| In office 29 February 2020 – 20 July 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Mario Radić (Acting) Ivan Penava |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 29 July 1962 Osijek, PR Croatia, FPR Yugoslavia |
| Political party | HDZ (2007–2012) DP (2020–2021) |
| Spouse | Kim Ann Luzaich (m. 1989) |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | University of Osijek |
| Occupation |
|
| Signature | |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals |
| Years active | 1989–present |
| Labels | |
| Website | skoro |
In the 2007 parliamentary election he was elected member of the Croatian Parliament for the Croatian Democratic Union party and held the office from January 2008 until his resignation in November of the same year. On 23 June 2019, he announced that he would contest the December presidential election as an independent candidate. He ended up finishing in third place with 24.45% of the vote – behind former prime minister Zoran Milanović (who ultimately won the election) and incumbent president Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, and thus did not advance to the run-off in January 2020. On 29 February 2020, he announced that he would be forming, as well as personally chairing, a new political party called the Miroslav Škoro Homeland Movement, which contested the July 2020 parliamentary election as part of a wider coalition of conservative and right-wing parties. On 5 March 2021, Škoro launched a campaign to contest the 2021 Zagreb local elections, with himself as the Homeland Movement's candidate for mayor of Zagreb and with the party also presenting a candidate list for the Zagreb City Assembly (in a coalition with the Green List).[1][2]
Early life edit
Born in Osijek, Škoro completed a civil engineering degree at the University of Osijek. He subsequently spent some time in the United States where he attended the Community College of Allegheny County for two years.[3] During his time in the United States, he co-wrote his first album Ne dirajte mi ravnicu with Pennsylvania native and tamburitza virtuoso Jerry Grcevich.[4]
Music career edit
Škoro emerged onto the Croatian music scene with the debut album Ne dirajte mi ravnicu and produced a song of the same name which would go on to be one of the most famous Croatian songs. The tambura group Zlatni dukati released their own cover of the song that same year.[5] In 2002, Škoro collaborated with Marko Perković on the song "Reci, brate moj" (Tell Me, My Brother). In the year after the collaboration was renewed in the single "Sude mi" ([They're] Putting Me on Trial), dedicated to retired Croatian general Ante Gotovina.
Between 2001 and 2006, Škoro was the chairman of the board of Croatia Records, the largest record company in Croatia.[6]
In 2003, Škoro was a judge in Story Supernova Music Talents, a reality show aired on Nova TV, and performed his song "Mata" at the funeral of general Janko Bobetko.[7] In 2004, his song "Milo moje" (My Sweet) won the Croatian Musicians Union's annual award for hit song.[8] His 2005 album, Svetinja (Shrine), sold over 20,000 copies.[9]
Political career edit
From 1995 to 1997, Škoro was the Croatian general consul to Hungary.[10]
On 30 October 2007, Škoro joined the Croatian Democratic Union, becoming a candidate on the 2007 parliamentary election and won seat in the parliament.[11] Škoro took office on 11 January 2008, but resigned in November 2008 due to his disappointment over the way politicians were treated by Croatian media.[12]
On 23 June 2019, Škoro announced his candidacy in the 2019–20 Croatian presidential election. In a video message on his Facebook page, Škoro said that changes to the Constitution are needed and that the president should have more powers.[13] He came in third place with 24.45% of the vote and was eliminated from the second round. His campaign is supported by HKS, Hrast and Most.
On 29 February 2020, Škoro reported to the media the establishment of the new right-wing political party, the Miroslav Škoro Homeland Movement, four and a half months before the 2020 parliamentary election.[14]
In March 2021, Škoro announced his candidacy for the mayor in the 2021 Zagreb local elections.[15] He lost in the second round, gaining 34% of the vote, Tomislav Tomašević winning with 64%.
Music festival appearances edit
Festivals won are in bold.
- Daleko je kuća moja, Herzegovinian Radio Festival, 2007
- Šil, dil, daj, Croatian Radio Festival, 2007
- Golubica, Zlatne žice Slavonije, 2005
- Vrime, Split Festival, 2005
- Svetinja, Croatian Radio Festival, 2005
- Četri vitra, Split Festival, 2003
- Milo moje, Croatian Radio Festival, 2003
- Sve od Drave, pa do Jadrana, Zlatne Žice Požege, 2002
- Reci, brate moj, MHJ, 2002
- Dida, Etnofest Neum, 2001
- Maria de la Lovrez, Croatian Radio Festival, 2001
- Ptica samica, Etnofest Neum, 1999
- Što te imam, moj živote, Croatian Radio Festival, 1999
- Lako ćemo mi, Požega, 1998
- Čovjek sunčani, MHJ, 1994
Discography edit
- Ne dirajte mi ravnicu (1992)
- Miroslav Škoro i Ravnica (1993)
- Sitan vez (1996)
- Miroslav Škoro, uživo (1998)
- Ptica samica (1999)
- Slagalica (2001)
- Milo moje (2003)
- Svetinja (2005)
- Sve najbolje (2007)
- Moje boje (2008)
- Čudnovate pjesmice o moru i lavoru (2013)
- Putujem sam (2014)
- Hrvatski Božić (2015)
References edit
- ^ "Miroslav Škoro objavio kandidaturu za zagrebačkog gradonačelnika" (in Croatian). Croatian Radiotelevision. 5 March 2021.
- ^ (PDF) (in Croatian). Electoral Commission of the City of Zagreb. 30 April 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 April 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
- ^ Miroslav Škoro profile, svastara.com. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
- ^ "Jerry Grcevich - tamburaški virtuoz iz Pennsylvanije". glashrvatske.hrt.hr (in Croatian). Croatian Radiotelevision. 27 May 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
- ^ 16 zlatnih hitova – 1992 – Najbolji hrvatski tamburaši (Zlatni dukati). Retrieved 15 December 2015.
- ^ "Vlasnik snimki nastalih prije 1993. Je država, a Croatia Records na njima zarađuje?".
- ^ Ciglenečki, Dražen; Vejnović, Saša (3 May 2003). "Farewell With Political Messages Of Retired Generals". Novi list. Retrieved 16 April 2009.
- ^ Profile 6 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine, Status-Onlinehgu.hr. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
- ^ Glazbeni kutak 21 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine, volavje.hr. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
- ^ Miroslav Škoro Biography 16 January 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ (in Croatian). Croatian Parliament. Archived from the original on 12 July 2010. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
- ^ "Povratak otpisanog: Rončević se vraća u Sabor, umjesto Škore". Index.hr (in Croatian). 19 November 2008. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ^ "Pop Singer Miroslav Škoro Wants More Powers as President". Total Croatia News. 23 June 2019.
- ^ "Miroslav Škoro predstavio najbliže suradnike i poručio: "Ne bih stajao danas ovdje da nisam spreman biti premijer"". Dnevnik.hr (in Croatian). 29 February 2020. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ "Miroslav Škoro prelomio, kandidirat će se za gradonačelnika Zagreba". dnevnik.hr. Retrieved 4 March 2021.