Homeland Movement (Croatia) Explained

Country:Croatia
Native Name:Domovinski pokret
Colours: Grey (customary)
Red
White
Blue
Abbreviation:DP
Founder:Miroslav Škoro
President:Ivan Penava
Leader1 Title:Deputy President
Leader1 Name:Mario Radić
Leader2 Title:Secretary-General
Leader2 Name:Josip Dabro
Slogan:Ustani i ostani!
("Get up and stay!")
Headquarters:Vlaška ulica 81F, Zagreb
Membership Year:2022
Membership:8,434[1]
Seats1 Title:Croatian Parliament
Seats3 Title:County Prefects
Seats4 Title:Mayors
Seats5 Title:Municipalities
Europarl:European Conservatives and Reformists[2]

The Homeland Movement (Croatian: Domovinski pokret; abbr. DP), previously known as Miroslav Škoro Homeland Movement (Croatian: Domovinski pokret Miroslava Škore; abbr. DPMŠ) until February 2021, is a nationalist and right-wing populist political party in Croatia.[3] The DP was founded by Croatian singer, former Croatian Democratic Union MP, and 2019–20 presidential election candidate, Miroslav Škoro, on 29 February 2020.

History

On 29 February 2020, Miroslav Škoro, a former MP who stood in the recent presidential election, confirmed to the media the formation of a new party, four and a half months before the parliamentary elections.[4] The DP tried to form a broad right-of-centre coalition for the upcoming election. They negotiated with the Bridge, but no agreement was reached.[5] A coalition was formed with several other parties, including the conservative Croatian Sovereignists, which was established to contest the 2019 European elections, and the newly founded Bloc for Croatia.[6] A coalition agreement was also signed with the Green List, emphasizing "environmental protection and the fight against climate change".[7]

On 20 July 2021, Miroslav Škoro resigned as party president over a dispute over party finances. This was soon followed by disciplinary proceedings against Škoro and his sister Vesna Vučemilović, which is why they decided to leave the party.[8] [9]

On 9 October 2021, Mayor of Vukovar, Ivan Penava was elected the new party president.[10]

In the 2024 Croatian parliamentary election, the DP led a coalition with Law and Justice and two independent members of the Sabor won 14 seats, becoming the third largest faction.[11] The ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ)'s coalition only earned 61 seats, needing 76 to form a government.[12] As such, the DP was courted by both the HDZ, and the main opposition, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Rivers of Justice coalition led by Zoran Milanović who attempted to form a broad "national salvation" government of every party against the HDZ. As such the party has been described as the kingmaker, as whichever coalition they join, the HDZ or SDP, would earn enough seats to form a government. However, on 27 April, after having coalition negoations with both parties, the HDZ Prime Minister Andrej Plenković announced that the DP would be joining their coalition "in the coming days."[13]

Political positions

The DP is variously considered conservative, right-wing populist and nationalist. The party competed in the 2020 Croatian parliamentary election in a coalition with several other minor right-wing to far-right parties, including the Croatian Conservative Party, Croatian Growth and Bloc for Croatia. It is also a vocal opponent of We can! and the Independent Democratic Serb Party.[14]

The party is in favour of the European Union and the Schengen Area but was opposed to the euro. The party is also against abortion and same-sex marriage. During 2022, the party expressed support for Ukraine, but was opposed to allowing military training of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Croatia.[15]

List of presidents

PresidentTerm startTerm end
1Miroslav Škoro29 February 202020 July 2021
Mario Radić (acting)20 July 20219 October 2021
2Ivan Penava9 October 2021Incumbent

Election results

Legislative

Parliament of Croatia
ElectionCoalitionVotes wonPercentage Seats wonChangeGovernment
2020HSHKSHRASTBzHZL–SU181,49210.89%NewOpposition
2024PiPBzHZL202,7149.56% 0

European Parliament

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 3 November 2023. Izvješće o obavljenoj financijskoj reviziji - Domovinski pokret za 2022. . State Audit Office. hr. 21 December 2023.
  2. Web site: ECR grows to 77 seats after first parliamentary group meeting. 12 June 2024. 12 June 2024. European Conservatives and Reformists.
  3. News: Croatia parliamentary race close as virus spikes. The Washington Post. 5 July 2020. 5 July 2020.
  4. Web site: Miroslav Škoro predstavio najbliže suradnike i poručio: "Ne bih stajao danas ovdje da nisam spreman biti premijer" . Dnevnik.hr . 29 February 2020 . 29 February 2020 . hr.
  5. Web site: Zapeli pregovori Škore sa Suverenistima i Mostom . Index.hr . 20 May 2020.
  6. News: FACTBOX – Croatia ahead of July 5 general election. SeeNews. 2 July 2020. 5 July 2020.
  7. News: VIDEO: ŠKORO POTPISAO SPORAZUM SA JOŠ JEDNOM STRANKOM Progovorio o Penavi, Marijani Petir, Bernardiću, ali i razlazu s poznatim vinarom. Jutarnji list. 19 May 2020.
  8. Web site: 16 August 2021. Miroslav Škoro ekskluzivno za Dnevnik Nove TV o ostavci i raskolu u Domovinskom pokretu: Možda će ovo biti dovoljan razlog da me izbace van. Miroslav Škoro exclusively for Dnevnik Nova TV about the resignation and split in the Homeland Movement: "Maybe this will be enough reason to throw me out". 19 January 2022. Dnevnik.hr. hr.
  9. Web site: 21 August 2021. Miroslav Škoro izlazi iz Domovinskog pokreta: "Točno je, zatražio sam ispisnicu". Miroslav Škoro leaves the Homeland Movement: "That's right, I asked for a letter of printout". 19 January 2022. Dnevnik.hr. hr.
  10. Web site: Ivan Penava izabran za novog predsjednika Domovinskog pokreta . Večernji list . 2 April 2024.
  11. News: Orovic . Joe . Higgins . Andrew . A Far-Right Party Emerges as a Possible Kingmaker in Croatia . The New York Times . 18 April 2024 . 19 April 2024 . 18 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240418164648/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/18/world/europe/croatia-election-far-right.html . live .
  12. Web site: 18 April 2024 . Croatia's ruling conservatives win parliamentary vote, but cannot rule alone . Associated Press . live . 18 April 2024 . 18 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240418044737/https://apnews.com/article/croatia-election-european-union-plenkovic-milanovic-b3a93b2598f60ebfdf663815dda2c0ad .
  13. Web site: Badovinac . Nikola . Homeland Movement meets with HDZ and SDP . glashrvatske.hrt.hr . 2 May 2024.
  14. Web site: Radić: DP ne može biti dio većine sa SDSS-om i Možemo!. 2024-04-29. 2024-05-17. Croatian Radiotelevision. T. V.. HRT. HINA. Croatian Radiotelevision. Croatian News Agency.
  15. Web site: Plenković nije uspio: HDZ nije skupio dovoljno ruku za Vladinu odluku o obuci ukrajinskih vojnika u Hrvatskoj . 2023-09-26 . . hr.
  16. Web site: Stephen Nikola BARTULICA // ECR Group . 2024-08-06 . ECR Group.
  17. Web site: Home Stephen Nikola BARTULICA MEPs European Parliament . 2024-08-06 . www.europarl.europa.eu . en.
  18. Web site: ECR grows to 77 seats after first parliamentary group meeting // ECR Group . 2024-08-06 . ECR Group.