Republic of Croatia (1990-1991)

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Republika Hrvatska Republic of Croatia A federal unit of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (1990-1991) ← 1990 – 1991 →   → Flag Coat of arms Capital Zagreb Government Constituent republic President  - 1990 – 1991 (as head of an independent country after 1991) Franjo Tuđman Prime Minister  - 1990 Stjepan Mesić  - 1990 - 1991 Josip Manolić History  - New Constitution 1990  - Log Revolution 1990  - Declaration of independence 1991

The Republic of Croatia was briefly a constituent republic within the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.The creation of a constituent republic based on democratic institutions occurred in 1990 when elections were held. Franjo Tuđman was elected Croatian President that year and promised independence if reforms were not introduced. While generally heading towards independence, the government attempted final negotiations with the Serbian government to create a confederal Yugoslavia in which Croatia and other republics would be autonomous and powers would be decentralized. This was not accepted.

From 1990 to 1991, Croatia faced political crisis within Yugoslavia as Serb-populated areas attempted to form an enclave called Serbian Krajina which intended to separate from Croatia if Croatia itself attempted to separate. The crisis began with the Log Revolution as Croatian Serbs cut down trees which they used to block roads. This hampered Croatian tourism and caused alarm in the province of Dalmatia as Croatia was having the 1990 European Championships in Athletics taking place in Split.

Croatia's status as a constituent republic came to an end in 1991 after a referendum on independence where a majority of Croatians endorsed independence from Yugoslavia. Serb-controlled areas of Croatia became part of the unrecognized Republic of Serbian Krajina, which would not be under Croatian control until 1995.