Dragutin Lesar
Encyclopedia
Dragutin Lesar is Croatia
n politician. Originally an union leader in the 1980s, he joined the liberal Croatian People's Party (HNS) in 1996. As member of HNS he was elected to the Croatian Parliament in the 2003 and 2007 general elections and served in the 5th and 6th Sabor. In April 2008 he resigned from HNS and continued to serve in the parliament as an independent
. In April 2010 he founded the centre-left Croatian Labourists – Labour Party (HL) and became their first party president.
near Čakovec
in Socialist Republic of Croatia
. He started to attend primary school in Mačkovec, but since his family moved to Šenkovec
in 1953, he finished it there.
He had wish to attend gymnasium in Zagreb
, but because of financial problems that family had, he entered commercial school. In 1972 he lost his father due to an accident at work. His both sisters were also school students and his mother's wage was to small for education for three of them, so Lesar paid for his education from his student awards. He finished high school in 1975, and after that employed in department store in Čakovec. Soon after he was conscript in Yugoslav People's Army
where he served for a year, until 1976. After the army, he employed in shoe store and after few months in iron foundry in Čakovec. At the same time he worked in foundry and educated for organizer of the sale.
and employed in "Gorenje-Mural
", an aluminium radiator factory, where he worked as commercial director. After that, he employes again in iron foundry in Čakovec, where he conducts procurement operations and forms commercial service. In 1985 he agains joins the syndicate. He became secretary of the syndicate in Čakovec by a tender. On his initiative, on 7 April 1990 "Syndicate of Workers Employed in Private Sector" was founded. This syndicate was later renamed to "Croatian Syndicate of Non-Industrial Workers and Private Employees".
Since attempt of reformation of Union of Syndicates of Croatia failed in 1990, Lesar, Vesna Dejanović, Ivan Miletić and Milan Krivokuća founded Union of Independent Syndicates of Croatia at the end of 1990. In January 1991 Lesar became president of SSSH. From January 1991 until March 1996 he performed this duty, when he resigned and joined PPDIV Syndicate.
, Srećko Bijelić, Savka Dabčević-Kučar and Dragutin Haramija and joined Croatian People's Party (HNS), and few months later he became the party's vice-president and worked so in the party for next 12 years. During the local elections in 1997 he was holder of the list for Međimurje County and candidate for House of Counties of Croatian Sabor
. His rivals were Franjo Tuđman, Ivica Račan
, Vlado Gotovac and Drago Stipac. He won 14.66% of votes and thus he did not enter the Sabor, but he did succeed in wining 5 seats for County Assembly and made a coalition with Croatian Social Liberal Party
and Croatian Peasant Party
and thus removed Croatian Democratic Union
from ruling role. Lesar became prefect's deputy. During 2000, Međimurje County Assemly accepts Lesar's proposal for foundation of Međimurje solidarity foundation "Katruža", and he becomes the manager of the foundation. On local elections in 2001 he won 6 seats and formed the same coalition and again becomes prefect's deputy. During the Croatian parliamentary elections of 2003
, Lesar was the holder of the list of HNS for III Electoral District. HNS won 2 seats, so Lesar entered in Sabor
along with Radimir Čačić
. During the parliamentary elections of 2007
he again became member of the parliament, but due to conflict with newly elected president of the HNS, Radimir Čačić
, he left HNS and acted as independent member of parliament since April 2008. On 31 March 2010 he founded Croatian Labourists – Labour Party and became its president. Lesar will compete in parliamentary elections of 2011.
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
n politician. Originally an union leader in the 1980s, he joined the liberal Croatian People's Party (HNS) in 1996. As member of HNS he was elected to the Croatian Parliament in the 2003 and 2007 general elections and served in the 5th and 6th Sabor. In April 2008 he resigned from HNS and continued to serve in the parliament as an independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
. In April 2010 he founded the centre-left Croatian Labourists – Labour Party (HL) and became their first party president.
Early life
Dragutin Lesar was born on 4 March 1956 in village MačkovecMačkovec, Croatia
Mačkovec is a village in Međimurje County, Croatia. It had a population of 1,359 in the 2001 census.The village is located approximately 3 kilometres from the centre of Čakovec, the county seat and largest city of Međimurje County, and administratively belongs to the city's wider area...
near Čakovec
Cakovec
Čakovec is a city in northern Croatia, located around 90 kilometres north of Zagreb, the Croatian capital. Čakovec is both the county seat and largest city of Međimurje County, the northernmost, smallest and most densely populated Croatian county.-Population:...
in Socialist Republic of Croatia
Socialist Republic of Croatia
Socialist Republic of Croatia was a sovereign constituent country of the second Yugoslavia. It came to existence during World War II, becoming a socialist state after the war, and was also renamed four times in its existence . It was the second largest republic in Yugoslavia by territory and...
. He started to attend primary school in Mačkovec, but since his family moved to Šenkovec
Šenkovec
Šenkovec is a municipality in Međimurje County, Croatia, located just outside the county seat, Čakovec.The municipality includes two villages – Šenkovec and Knezovec. In the 2001 census, the two villages were populated by a total of 2,770 people, most of whom are Croats...
in 1953, he finished it there.
He had wish to attend gymnasium in Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
, but because of financial problems that family had, he entered commercial school. In 1972 he lost his father due to an accident at work. His both sisters were also school students and his mother's wage was to small for education for three of them, so Lesar paid for his education from his student awards. He finished high school in 1975, and after that employed in department store in Čakovec. Soon after he was conscript in Yugoslav People's Army
Yugoslav People's Army
The Yugoslav People's Army , also referred to as the Yugoslav National Army , was the military of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.-Origins:The origins of the JNA can...
where he served for a year, until 1976. After the army, he employed in shoe store and after few months in iron foundry in Čakovec. At the same time he worked in foundry and educated for organizer of the sale.
Trade union activity
He started his union activities in 1978 as syndicate representative. In 1980 he became secretary of the Čakovec Municipal Council of Syndicates. He leaves Municipal Council of Syndicates because of disagreement with local Communist Party officials. After that, he moved to Mursko SredišćeMursko Središce
Mursko Središće is the northernmost city in Croatia, located at and one of the oldest localities in Međimurje county.Mursko Središće is a city with a total population of 6,334 , and an area of...
and employed in "Gorenje-Mural
Gorenje
Gorenje is the largest Slovenian manufacturer of white goods . With a continent-wide market share of 4%, it is one of the eight largest manufacturers of home appliances in Europe...
", an aluminium radiator factory, where he worked as commercial director. After that, he employes again in iron foundry in Čakovec, where he conducts procurement operations and forms commercial service. In 1985 he agains joins the syndicate. He became secretary of the syndicate in Čakovec by a tender. On his initiative, on 7 April 1990 "Syndicate of Workers Employed in Private Sector" was founded. This syndicate was later renamed to "Croatian Syndicate of Non-Industrial Workers and Private Employees".
Since attempt of reformation of Union of Syndicates of Croatia failed in 1990, Lesar, Vesna Dejanović, Ivan Miletić and Milan Krivokuća founded Union of Independent Syndicates of Croatia at the end of 1990. In January 1991 Lesar became president of SSSH. From January 1991 until March 1996 he performed this duty, when he resigned and joined PPDIV Syndicate.
Political career
In autumn of 1996, he contacted Radimir ČačićRadimir Cacic
Radimir Čačić is a Croatian politician and businessman, and the president of the Croatian People's Party – Liberal Democrats ....
, Srećko Bijelić, Savka Dabčević-Kučar and Dragutin Haramija and joined Croatian People's Party (HNS), and few months later he became the party's vice-president and worked so in the party for next 12 years. During the local elections in 1997 he was holder of the list for Međimurje County and candidate for House of Counties of Croatian Sabor
Parliament of Croatia
The Parliament of Croatia or the Sabor is the unicameral representative body of the citizens of the Republic of Croatia and legislature of the country. Under the terms of the Croatian Constitution, represents the people and is vested with the legislative power...
. His rivals were Franjo Tuđman, Ivica Račan
Ivica Racan
Ivica Račan was a Croatian career politician, leader of the League of Communists of Croatia and later Social Democratic Party from 1989 to 2007...
, Vlado Gotovac and Drago Stipac. He won 14.66% of votes and thus he did not enter the Sabor, but he did succeed in wining 5 seats for County Assembly and made a coalition with Croatian Social Liberal Party
Croatian Social Liberal Party
Croatian Social Liberal Party or HSLS is a conservative liberal political party in Croatia. The party is a member of Liberal International and the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party. Its current president is Darinko Kosor, elected to that post in November 2009.-Chronology:The HSLS was...
and Croatian Peasant Party
Croatian Peasant Party
The Croatian Peasant Party is a center and socially conservative political party in Croatia.-Austria-Hungary:The Croatian People's Peasant Party was formed on December 22, 1904 by Antun Radić along with his brother Stjepan Radić. The party contested elections for the first time in the Kingdom of...
and thus removed Croatian Democratic Union
Croatian Democratic Union
The Croatian Democratic Union is the main center-right political party in Croatia. It is the biggest and strongest individual Croatian party since independence of Croatia. The Christian democratic HDZ governed Croatia from 1990 to 2000 and, in partial coalition, from 2003...
from ruling role. Lesar became prefect's deputy. During 2000, Međimurje County Assemly accepts Lesar's proposal for foundation of Međimurje solidarity foundation "Katruža", and he becomes the manager of the foundation. On local elections in 2001 he won 6 seats and formed the same coalition and again becomes prefect's deputy. During the Croatian parliamentary elections of 2003
Croatian parliamentary election, 2003
-External links:*...
, Lesar was the holder of the list of HNS for III Electoral District. HNS won 2 seats, so Lesar entered in Sabor
Parliament of Croatia
The Parliament of Croatia or the Sabor is the unicameral representative body of the citizens of the Republic of Croatia and legislature of the country. Under the terms of the Croatian Constitution, represents the people and is vested with the legislative power...
along with Radimir Čačić
Radimir Cacic
Radimir Čačić is a Croatian politician and businessman, and the president of the Croatian People's Party – Liberal Democrats ....
. During the parliamentary elections of 2007
Croatian parliamentary election, 2007
Parliamentary elections to the Croatian Parliament were held on 25 November 2007 in Croatia and on 24 November and 25 November 2007 abroad. The campaign officially started on 3 November...
he again became member of the parliament, but due to conflict with newly elected president of the HNS, Radimir Čačić
Radimir Cacic
Radimir Čačić is a Croatian politician and businessman, and the president of the Croatian People's Party – Liberal Democrats ....
, he left HNS and acted as independent member of parliament since April 2008. On 31 March 2010 he founded Croatian Labourists – Labour Party and became its president. Lesar will compete in parliamentary elections of 2011.