Boris Mikšic
Encyclopedia
Boris Mikšić is a Croatia
n businessman and politician.
Mikšić was born in Zagreb
, then part of SFR Yugoslavia. He graduated from the University of Zagreb
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture in 1973. He then emigrated to the United States of America, settling in Minnesota
where he gradually began his business creating the Cortec Corporation.
Over the years he became one of the wealthiest Croatian Americans. He first ventured into the Croatian politics as an independent candidate in the 2003 parliamentary elections
.
In 2005, he ran as an independent candidate on the Croatian presidential elections. His campaign was partially based on his autobiography Američki san dečka s Trešnjevke (American dream of a kid from Trešnjevka
) that he had published in 1994 - creating image of a simple Zagreb youth, who fulfilled so called American Dream
. It was also based on his opposition to the ICTY and Eurosceptic
views. Because the last was outside the mainstream political view in Croatia, few took him seriously, despite the lavish campaign he was able to pay for.
On 2 January, to the surprise of many, first election projections showed him as winning 2nd place, knocking the government's candidate Jadranka Kosor
out of the race. Immediately many commentators began to interpret his success as a protest vote against the Croatian political establishment, engulfed in corruption and being notoriously inefficient. As if Mikšić, already wealthy has been seen by voters as more decent and less corruptible candidate.
Few hours later new projections, based on the votes cast by Croatian citizens in neighboring Bosnia and Herzegovina
, brought Jadranka Kosor to the 2nd place. Mikšić was surprised as was the most of Croatian public. At first he refused to accept results and blamed the failure on alleged vote fraud, and "dead people voting".
He called supporters to demonstrate on streets over the alleged fraud, inspired by the, at the time current, Orange Revolution
in Ukraine. The demonstrations were a complete failure, with only a small group of extremists protesting in front of the Croatian Democratic Union
offices being noticed and really worth reporting. Suddenly, Mikšić started distancing himself from what he initially orchestrated and just few days later he finally conceded.
When he conceded, he nevertheless announced his candidacy in local elections, including those for Zagreb City Assembly. His announcement was quickly followed by media reporters revealing his history of alleged spousal abuse that had also been brought up previously, while most mainstream commentators described him as the charlatan and dangerous populist. Campaign appeared to have effect within the 2005 local elections
. His slate did enter the Zagreb City Assembly, but with only three seats, which was fewer than he expected.
Mikšić entered into the Croatian presidential election, 2009–2010, but was eliminated in the first round with 2.1% of the vote.
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
n businessman and politician.
Mikšić was born in Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
, then part of SFR Yugoslavia. He graduated from the University of Zagreb
University of Zagreb
The University of Zagreb is the biggest Croatian university and the oldest continuously operating university in the area covering Central Europe south of Vienna and all of Southeastern Europe...
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture in 1973. He then emigrated to the United States of America, settling in Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
where he gradually began his business creating the Cortec Corporation.
Over the years he became one of the wealthiest Croatian Americans. He first ventured into the Croatian politics as an independent candidate in the 2003 parliamentary elections
Croatian parliamentary election, 2003
-External links:*...
.
In 2005, he ran as an independent candidate on the Croatian presidential elections. His campaign was partially based on his autobiography Američki san dečka s Trešnjevke (American dream of a kid from Trešnjevka
Trešnjevka
Trešnjevka is a large neighbourhood in the western part of the city of Zagreb, Croatia.It is administratively divided into two districts:* Trešnjevka - sjever...
) that he had published in 1994 - creating image of a simple Zagreb youth, who fulfilled so called American Dream
American Dream
The American Dream is a national ethos of the United States in which freedom includes a promise of the possibility of prosperity and success. In the definition of the American Dream by James Truslow Adams in 1931, "life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each...
. It was also based on his opposition to the ICTY and Eurosceptic
EuroSceptic
EuroSceptic is the second album of British singer Jack Lucien. It was released in October 2009.Due to being an album influenced by Europop, it features songs with parts in different languages...
views. Because the last was outside the mainstream political view in Croatia, few took him seriously, despite the lavish campaign he was able to pay for.
On 2 January, to the surprise of many, first election projections showed him as winning 2nd place, knocking the government's candidate Jadranka Kosor
Jadranka Kosor
Jadranka Kosor is a Croatian politician and former journalist. She is the current Prime Minister of Croatia, having taken office on July 6, 2009, following the sudden resignation of her predecessor Ivo Sanader. She is Croatia's first female Prime Minister since independence.-Early life:Jadranka...
out of the race. Immediately many commentators began to interpret his success as a protest vote against the Croatian political establishment, engulfed in corruption and being notoriously inefficient. As if Mikšić, already wealthy has been seen by voters as more decent and less corruptible candidate.
Few hours later new projections, based on the votes cast by Croatian citizens in neighboring Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
, brought Jadranka Kosor to the 2nd place. Mikšić was surprised as was the most of Croatian public. At first he refused to accept results and blamed the failure on alleged vote fraud, and "dead people voting".
He called supporters to demonstrate on streets over the alleged fraud, inspired by the, at the time current, Orange Revolution
Orange Revolution
The Orange Revolution was a series of protests and political events that took place in Ukraine from late November 2004 to January 2005, in the immediate aftermath of the run-off vote of the 2004 Ukrainian presidential election which was claimed to be marred by massive corruption, voter...
in Ukraine. The demonstrations were a complete failure, with only a small group of extremists protesting in front of the Croatian Democratic Union
Croatian Democratic Union
The Croatian Democratic Union is the main center-right political party in Croatia. It is the biggest and strongest individual Croatian party since independence of Croatia. The Christian democratic HDZ governed Croatia from 1990 to 2000 and, in partial coalition, from 2003...
offices being noticed and really worth reporting. Suddenly, Mikšić started distancing himself from what he initially orchestrated and just few days later he finally conceded.
When he conceded, he nevertheless announced his candidacy in local elections, including those for Zagreb City Assembly. His announcement was quickly followed by media reporters revealing his history of alleged spousal abuse that had also been brought up previously, while most mainstream commentators described him as the charlatan and dangerous populist. Campaign appeared to have effect within the 2005 local elections
Zagreb local elections, 2005
The Zagreb local elections of 2005 were held on May 15, 2005 in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. On the last local elections, in 2001, Milan Bandić had been re-elected as the mayor of Zagreb. However, a 2002 incident made him resign in favor of Vlasta Pavić, a deputy mayor chosen by Social...
. His slate did enter the Zagreb City Assembly, but with only three seats, which was fewer than he expected.
Mikšić entered into the Croatian presidential election, 2009–2010, but was eliminated in the first round with 2.1% of the vote.