Milan Đukić
Milan Đukić (Милан Ђукић, also Milan Djukic in English sources) (born Donji Lapac, Yugoslavia, 10 April 1947, died 8 October 2007) was a Croatian Serb politician. He was the leader of the Serb People's Party, and a former deputy speaker of the Croatian Parliament.[1]
Đukić lead the Serb People's Party from the 1990s until his death in 2007.[1] His party represented ethnic Serbs in Croatia who did not join a separatist rebellion against Croatia's independence movement from the former Yugoslavia.[1]
Đukić was the subject of heavy criticism from both Croats and Serbs within Croatia. Croats disliked him because he criticized the government's treatment of ethnic Serbs,[1] who are the country's largest minority group. Ethnic Serbs at times disliked Đukić because he was seen as part of Croatia's political establishment.[1]
Đukić served as a lawmaker and member of parliament from 1992 until 2003.[1] He served as deputy parliamentary speaker from 1992 until 1996.[1] His influence in government gradually diminished as other ethnic Serbs attracted votes and attention from Croatia's minority communities.[1]
Đukić died in his home village of Donji Lapac, which is located in central Croatia, on 8 October 2007.[1] He was 61 and was survived by his wife, Dara, and their two children.[1]