Goran Knežević

Goran Knežević
Горан Кнежевић
Knežević in May 2013
Minister of Economy
In office
11 August 2016 – 28 October 2020
Prime MinisterAleksandar Vučić
Ivica Dačić (Acting)
Ana Brnabić
Preceded byŽeljko Sertić
Succeeded byAnđelka Atanasković
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management
In office
27 July 2012 – 2 September 2013
Prime MinisterAleksandar Vučić
Preceded byDušan Petrović
Succeeded byDragan Glamočić
Mayor of Zrenjanin
In office
6 July 2012 – 26 July 2012
Preceded byMileta Mihajlov
Succeeded byIvan Bošnjak
In office
2004–2009
Preceded byMilan Čežek
Succeeded byMileta Mihajlov
Personal details
Born (1957-05-12) 12 May 1957 (age 67)
Banatski Karlovac, PR Serbia, FPR Yugoslavia
Political partyDemocratic Party (1991–2008)
Serbian Progressive Party (2010–)
RelationsVuksan Knežević (father)
Alma materUniversity of Belgrade
OccupationPolitician
Basketball career
Career history
1978–1980Partizan
?Vojvodina
?Proleter
Career highlights and awards

Goran Knežević (Serbian Cyrillic: Горан Кнежевић, pronounced [ɡǒran kněːʒeʋitɕ]; born 12 May 1957) is a Serbian politician and former professional basketball player. His father is Vuksan Knežević (b. 1931), former Yugoslav political dissident and writer who was sent to prison camp Goli Otok at the age of 17.[1] He served as the Minister of Economy of Serbia from 2016 to 2020.

He previously served as Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management from 2012 to 2013.[2] He also served as the mayor of Zrenjanin from 2004 to 2009 and shortly in 2012.

Early years and education

He was born in Banatski Karlovac, Serbia. He graduated from the University of Belgrade with a diploma in economics.

Basketball career

Knežević used to be a basketball player in Partizan from Belgrade, Vojvodina from Novi Sad and Proleter from Zrenjanin. During 1978–79 season he won Yugoslav First Federal League, Yugoslav Cup and FIBA Korać Cup with Partizan.

Also, he used to be a president of Basketball Federation of Serbia and Montenegro during a short period between 2005 and 2006.

Political career

Knežević became mayor of Zrenjanin municipality in 2004, and was re-elected in 2008.

On 1 October 2008 Knežević was interrogated by Serbian police on suspicion that he was involved in "construction mafia" - helping individuals from organized crime circles launder money by investing it in construction and real-estate development.[3]

In 1 April 2009 the DS Mayor was charged with Abuse of Office. The Special Prosecution states that the Zrenjanin municipal budget suffered damages to the amount of EUR 1.6mn, as a result.[4]

On 23 April 2009 he was dismissed as a Mayor, since he was in custody since 1 October 2008. He was released from custody on 4 November 2009.

On 11 August 2016, Knežević took the office of the Minister of Economy of Serbia, replacing Željko Sertić on that position.[5]

In February 2017, the Prime Minister of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić decided to run for the 2017 Serbian presidential elections.[6] He won the elections in the first round and was sworn as the President of Serbia on 31 May 2017.[7] Weeks later, he gave mandate to Ana Brnabić to form the governmental cabinet.[8] On 29 June 2017, the cabinet of Ana Brnabić was formed,[9][10] with Knežević keeping his office.

References

  1. ^ "Odjek tišine: Vuksan Knežević". Danas.rs, 6 Mart 2017.
  2. ^ "Serbia accepted resignation of nine ministers". balkans.com. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
  3. ^ Uhapšen gradonačelnik Zrenjanina, B92, October 1, 2008
  4. ^ "Zrenjanin mayor charged with abuse of office". b92. 2009-04-03. Archived from the original on 2009-04-03. Retrieved 2023-06-03.
  5. ^ "НОВИ МИНИСТАР ПРИВРЕДЕ ГОРАН КНЕЖЕВИЋ ПРЕУЗЕО ДУЖНОСТ". privreda.gov.rs (in Serbian). 11 August 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  6. ^ "SNS: Jednoglasno - Vučić kandidat za predsednika". b92.net (in Serbian). Tanjug. 14 February 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  7. ^ "Vucic Sworn in as Serbia's New President Amid Protests". usnews.com. 31 May 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  8. ^ "Vučić: Kandidat za predsednika Vlade je Ana Brnabić". b92.net (in Serbian). 15 June 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  9. ^ "Kabinet Ane Brnabić položio zakletvu". danas.rs (in Serbian). Danas Online. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  10. ^ Surk, Barbara. "Serbia Gets Its First Female, and First Openly Gay, Premier". The New York Times. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
Political offices
Preceded by Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of Serbia
2012–2013 		Succeeded by
Dragan Glamočić
Preceded by
Željko Sertić
 Minister of Economy of Serbia
2016–2020 		Succeeded by
Sporting positions
Preceded by President of the Basketball Federation of Serbia and Montenegro
2005–2007 		Succeeded by


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