Ivan Vekić
Encyclopedia
Ivan Vekić is a Croatia
n politician and lawyer. He was one of the founders of the Croatian Democratic Union
and served as the Croatian Minister of Interior during the Croatian War of Independence
.
near Vrgorac
in Kingdom of Yugoslavia
on 18 October 1938. He was a member of Matica hrvatska
and was one of the founders of the Croatian Democratic Union
in 1989. In 1990 he entered the Parliament of Croatia
. He served as the Minister of Interior from 31 July 1991 until 15 April 1992. During the Croatian War of Independence
he had a rank of Colonel. He was decorated with the Order of Ante Starčević
for contribution to the maintenance and development of the Croatian statehood idea, establishment and construction of the sovereign Croatian state, while he refused to accept 5 decorations which were awarded to him by President Franjo Tuđman.
Vekić is a critic of post-war policy of Croatian Democratic Union. He entered a conflict with the party's new leaders, Ivo Sanader
and Vladimir Šeks
. In 2003, after publishing Steps in History - Memories and Events , where he criticized Šeks, he was expelled from the party.
During the parliamentary election in 2007
, he was a candidate of Only Croatia – Movement for Croatia
for a seat in the Parliament of Croatia.
In May 2011, after a series of adverse events in Croatia, he reshaped his existing civic association "Croatian Guard" into a nationalist political party called the Croatian Guard National Party. He is the President of the party, and they advocate armed training in high schools and capital punishment.
In September 2011 he was accused for war crimes by Serbia, along with Vladimir Šeks
, Branimir Glavaš
, Tomislav Merčep
and 40 other Croatian soldiers involved in the Battle of Vukovar
. He is charged with killing of 13 civilians and 6 unidentified persons.
In October 2011 he entered into a coalition with the Croatian Party of Rights
. This was a result of call for unity of right-wing parties made by Daniel Srb
, president of the Croatian Party of Rights. Vekić will be the top candidate on this coalition's list in the 4th electoral district
in the Croatian parliamentary election, 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 and lawyer. He was one of the founders of the 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...
and served as the Croatian Minister of Interior during the Croatian War of Independence
Croatian War of Independence
The Croatian War of Independence was fought from 1991 to 1995 between forces loyal to the government of Croatia—which had declared independence from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia —and the Serb-controlled Yugoslav People's Army and local Serb forces, with the JNA ending its combat...
.
Biography
Vekić was born in PoljicaPoljica
Poljica may refer to:* Poljica , a region of inland Dalmatia, Croatia** Republic of Poljica, an autonomous community which existed in the area between the 13th and early 19th century...
near Vrgorac
Vrgorac
Vrgorac is a town in Croatia in the Split-Dalmatia County.The total population of Vrgorac is 6,501 , in the following settlements:* Banja, population 214* Dragljane, population 47* Draževitići, population 204* Duge Njive, population 106...
in Kingdom of Yugoslavia
Kingdom of Yugoslavia
The Kingdom of Yugoslavia was a state stretching from the Western Balkans to Central Europe which existed during the often-tumultuous interwar era of 1918–1941...
on 18 October 1938. He was a member of Matica hrvatska
Matica hrvatska
Matica hrvatska is one of the oldest Croatian cultural institutions, dating back to 1842. The name is somewhat idiosyncratic, best translated as "The Croatian Centre" . It is the largest publisher of Croatian language books...
and was one of the founders of the 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...
in 1989. In 1990 he entered the Parliament of Croatia
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...
. He served as the Minister of Interior from 31 July 1991 until 15 April 1992. During the Croatian War of Independence
Croatian War of Independence
The Croatian War of Independence was fought from 1991 to 1995 between forces loyal to the government of Croatia—which had declared independence from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia —and the Serb-controlled Yugoslav People's Army and local Serb forces, with the JNA ending its combat...
he had a rank of Colonel. He was decorated with the Order of Ante Starčević
Order of Ante Starcevic
The Order of Ante Starčević is a Croatian national decoration which ranks eleventh in importance. The order was formed on April 1, 1995.The Order of Ante Starčević is granted to Croatians and foreigners for their contributions to the development of the Croatian state.-Notable recipients:* Mate...
for contribution to the maintenance and development of the Croatian statehood idea, establishment and construction of the sovereign Croatian state, while he refused to accept 5 decorations which were awarded to him by President Franjo Tuđman.
Vekić is a critic of post-war policy of Croatian Democratic Union. He entered a conflict with the party's new leaders, Ivo Sanader
Ivo Sanader
Ivo Sanader |Split]]) is a Croatian politician who served as the Prime Minister of Croatia from 2003 to 2009.Sanader obtained his education in comparative literature in Austria, where he also later worked in the 1980s. He worked as a journalist, in marketing, publishing and also as a private...
and Vladimir Šeks
Vladimir Šeks
Vladimir Šeks is an influential Croatian politician, a member of the Croatian Democratic Union . He has been a representative in the Croatian Parliament since the nation's independence, and has held the posts of the Speaker of the Parliament as well as Deputy Prime Minister of the Government.Šeks...
. In 2003, after publishing Steps in History - Memories and Events , where he criticized Šeks, he was expelled from the party.
During the parliamentary election in 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 was a candidate of Only Croatia – Movement for Croatia
Only Croatia – Movement for Croatia
Only Croatia – Movement for Croatia is a political party in Croatia, formed in 2007.The party was established by disaffected founding members of the HDZ, the Croatian Bloc , and by a group of Croatian Generals, including Marinko Krešić and Ljubo Ćesić Rojs, who were deeply worried about foreign...
for a seat in the Parliament of Croatia.
In May 2011, after a series of adverse events in Croatia, he reshaped his existing civic association "Croatian Guard" into a nationalist political party called the Croatian Guard National Party. He is the President of the party, and they advocate armed training in high schools and capital punishment.
In September 2011 he was accused for war crimes by Serbia, along with Vladimir Šeks
Vladimir Šeks
Vladimir Šeks is an influential Croatian politician, a member of the Croatian Democratic Union . He has been a representative in the Croatian Parliament since the nation's independence, and has held the posts of the Speaker of the Parliament as well as Deputy Prime Minister of the Government.Šeks...
, Branimir Glavaš
Branimir Glavaš
Branimir Glavaš is a controversial Croatian right-wing politician and a convicted war criminal.Glavaš came to prominence in his home city of Osijek during the Croatian war of independence, when he led its defense and became a major general in the Croatian Army...
, Tomislav Merčep
Tomislav Merčep
Tomislav Merčep is a former Croatian politician and paramilitary during the Croatian War of Independence.A native of Vukovar, Merčep worked as an engineer before joining the Croatian Democratic Union in 1990...
and 40 other Croatian soldiers involved in the Battle of Vukovar
Battle of Vukovar
The Battle of Vukovar was an 87-day siege of Vukovar in eastern Croatia by the Yugoslav People's Army , supported by various paramilitary forces from Serbia, between August and November 1991. Before the Croatian War of Independence the Baroque town was a prosperous, mixed community of Croats,...
. He is charged with killing of 13 civilians and 6 unidentified persons.
In October 2011 he entered into a coalition with the Croatian Party of Rights
Croatian Party of Rights
The Croatian Party of Rights is a right-wing political party in Croatia. The "right" in the party's name refer to the idea of Croatian national and ethnic rights that the party has vowed to protect since its founding in the 19th century...
. This was a result of call for unity of right-wing parties made by Daniel Srb
Daniel Srb
Daniel Srb is a Croatian right-wing politician and president of the Croatian Party of Rights.-Early life and education:Srb was born in Osijek on 23 November 1964....
, president of the Croatian Party of Rights. Vekić will be the top candidate on this coalition's list in the 4th electoral district
Croatian Parliament electoral districts
The Croatian Parliament electoral districts have been in place since the Law on Electoral Districts of 1999.Croatia has 12 electoral districts. Ten of these are geographical districts within Croatia, each providing 14 members of parliament. District XI is for Croatian citizens living abroad, with a...
in the Croatian parliamentary election, 2011.