List of Presidents of Croatia

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This is a list of Presidents of Croatia. Historically, the heads of state of Croatia as a constituent country of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia were referred-to as "Presidents". Prior to 1974, Croatia's head of state was the speaker of the Croatian parliament. The Croatian Parliament was known as the People's Assembly (Narodna Skupština) 1945-1953, and then re-assumed its old name, the Sabor, in 1953 ("Sabor" is translated "Parliament" in the table).

Since the Christmas Constitution, the President of the Republic (Predsjednik) is directly elected to a five-year term and is limited to a maximum of two terms. Since the changes to the Constitution of Croatia in 2001, the President of the Republic of Croatia cannot be a member of any political party.[1] He or she can be elected as a member of a party, but once elected must resign from membership in any political party.

      League of Communists of Yugoslavia       Social Democratic Party       Croatian Democratic Union       Croatian Peasant Party       Croatian People's Party

No. President Lifespan Term of office
—
Electoral
mandates		 Party Notes
Presidents of the Presidium of the Parliament
1943-1953
1 Vladimir Nazor 1876–1949 13 June
1943		 19 June
1949		 Independent[2] From 1943 to 1945 formal head of state as Speaker of the ZAVNOH (Croatian wartime assembly). Post-war served as head of state in the function of President of the Presidium of the Parliament. First head of state of modern Croatia. Died in office.
2 Karlo Mrazović 1902–1987 15 October
1949
1952		 Communist Party of Yugoslavia
3 Vicko Krstulović 1905–1988
1952		 6 February
1953		 Communist Party of Yugoslavia
(renamed in 1952)
League of Communists of Yugoslavia
(renamed in 1952)
Speakers of the Parliament
1953-1974
4 Zlatan Sremec 1898–1971 6 February
1953		 December
1953		 League of Communists of Yugoslavia Speaker of Parliament since 1946; became formal head of state (as Speaker) on 6 February 1953 with the abolition of the Presidium.
5 Vladimir Bakarić 1912–1983 December
1953		 December
1963		 League of Communists of Yugoslavia Longest term to date as Croatian head of state, also served as Prime Minister of Croatia. People's Hero of Yugoslavia
6 Ivan Krajačić 1906–1986 December
1963		 June
1967		 League of Communists of Yugoslavia
7 Jakov Blažević 1912–1996 June
1967		 April
1974		 League of Communists of Yugoslavia
8 Ivo Perišin 1923–2009 April
1974		 8 May
1974		 League of Communists of Yugoslavia Ceased to be the head of state with the establishment of the collective Presidency on 8 May 1974; continued on as Speaker until 1978. Also at one time held the positions of Prime Minister of Croatia, and Mayor of Split.
Presidents of the Presidency
1974-1990
9 Jakov Blažević 1912–1996 8 May
1974		 May
1982		 League of Communists of Yugoslavia
10 Marijan Cvetković 1920–1990 May
1982		 May
1983		 League of Communists of Yugoslavia
11 Milutin Baltić 1920–2013 May
1983		 10 May
1984		 League of Communists of Yugoslavia
12 Jakša Petrić 1922–1993 10 May
1984		 10 May
1985		 League of Communists of Yugoslavia
13 Pero Car 1920–1985 10 May
1985		 20 November
1985		 League of Communists of Yugoslavia
14 Ema Derosi-Bjelajac 1926– 20 November
1985		 10 May
1986		 League of Communists of Yugoslavia First female head of state of modern Croatia.
15 Ante Marković 1924–2011 10 May
1986		 May
1988		 League of Communists of Yugoslavia Also at one time Prime Minister of Croatia, and last Prime Minister of Yugoslavia. Led successful reforms terminated by the ensuing Yugoslav Wars.
16 Ivo Latin 1929–2002 May
1988		 30 May
1990		 League of Communists of Yugoslavia
17 Franjo Tuđman 1922–1999 30 May
1990		 25 July
1990		 Croatian Democratic Union Constitutional amendments in July 1990 changed formal title to "President of Croatia" and expanded presidential powers. New constitution (third since 1945) drafted later that year.
Presidents
Following the 1990 constitutional reforms[3]
1
(17)		 Franjo Tuđman 1922–1999 25 July
1990		 10 December
1999		 Croatian Democratic Union Croatia independent from 25 June 1991.
Incapacitated from 26 November 1999; died while formally in office.
1992, 1997
N/A Vlatko Pavletić
(acting)		 1930–2007 26 November
1999		 2 February
2000		 Croatian Democratic Union Acting president as Speaker of the Parliament.
N/A Zlatko Tomčić
(acting)		 1945– 2 February
2000		 18 February
2000		 Croatian Peasant Party Acting president as Speaker of the Parliament.
2
(18)		 Stjepan Mesić 1934– 18 February
2000		 18 February
2010		 Croatian People's Party Two terms. Previously served as the last President of the Presidency of Yugoslavia.
2000, 2005
3
(19)		 Ivo Josipović 1957– 19 February
2010		 18 February
2015		 Social Democratic Party
2009–10
4
(20)		 Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović 1968– 19 February
2015		 Incumbent Croatian Democratic Union First female president (since 1990 parliamentary elections; second female president overall)
2014–15

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/232289.html
  2. ↑ Member of the Unitary National Liberation Front, i.e. the National Front
  3. ↑ Sabor (July 25, 1990). "Odluka o proglašenju Amandmana LXIV. do LXXV. na Ustav Socijalističke Republike Hrvatske". Narodne novine (in Croatian). Retrieved 2011-12-27.