President of Croatia
Encyclopedia
The President of Croatia , officially styled
the President of the Republic represents the Republic of Croatia
in the country and abroad as the head of state
, maintains the regular and coordinated operation and stability of the national government system, and safeguards the independence and territorial integrity of the country. The president calls elections for the Parliament of Croatia
as well as referenda
. The president also appoints prime ministers on the basis of the balance of power in the parliament, grants pardon
s and awards decorations and other forms of state awards. The President of Croatia and the government
cooperate in the area of foreign policy
, and the president is the commander-in-chief
of the Croatian armed forces
while directing the operation of the Croatian security and intelligence system
jointly with the government. The president may dissolve the parliament as provided by the constitution
. Although enjoying immunity
, the president is impeachable
for any violation of the constitution. In case of incapacitation to discharge duties of office, the Speaker of the parliament assumes the office of acting president until the president resumes duty, or until the election and inauguration of a new president. The inauguration ceremony is held at St. Mark's Square
in Zagreb
, in front of the St. Mark's Church
, halfway between the parliament and Banski dvori
—the seat of the government.
The Office of the President of the Republic
consists of the immediate staff of the president of Croatia, as well as support staff reporting to the president. It was established by a presidential decree by Franjo Tuđman on 19 January 1991. The office employs advisors to the president and comprises eight departments, four councils, a presidential pardon commission and two decorations and awards commissions. The office is headquartered in the Presidential Palace
in the Pantovčak
area of Zagreb.
The president is elected on the basis of universal suffrage
, through a secret ballot
, for a five year term. If no candidate in the elections
secures more than 50% of the votes, a runoff election is held in 14 days. The Constitution of Croatia sets a limit to a maximum of two terms in office and requires election dates to be determined within 30 to 60 days before the expiry of the term of the incumbent president. The president-elect is required to take an the oath of office
before the judges of the Constitutional Court. Franjo Tuđman won the first Croatian presidential elections in 1992
and 1997
. During his time in office, the constitution of 1990 provided for a semi-presidential system
. After his death in 1999, the constitution was amended and much of the presidential powers were transferred to the parliament and the government
. Stjepan Mesić
won two consecutive terms, in 2000
on the Croatian People's Party (HNS) ticket and in 2005
, the maximum term permitted by the constitution. Ivo Josipović
, an SDP candidate, won the presidential elections held in December 2009 and January 2010.
The Constitution of Croatia defines the appearance and use of the presidential standard as a symbol of the President of Croatia, and the appearance and use of the presidential sash
as a symbol of honour of the office of the president. The presidential standard is flown on buildings of the Office of the President of Croatia, the residence of the president, the transportation vehicles when in use by the president, and in other ceremonial occasions. The constitution specifies that the sash is worn on Statehood Day
, during awards ceremonies, during the acceptance of letters of credence
and in other ceremonial occasions; however, the presidential sash has not been in use since the 2000 inauguration of Stjepan Mesić.
the President of the Republic represents the Republic of Croatia
in the country and abroad as the head of state
, maintains the regular and coordinated operation and stability of the national government system and safeguards the independence and territorial integrity of the country. The president is barred from executing any other public or professional duty while in office.
The President of Croatia calls elections for the Parliament of Croatia
and convenes the first meeting of the parliamentary assembly. The president is also required to appoint a prime minister, on the basis of the balance of power in the parliament. The appointed candidate is in turn required to seek confirmation from the parliament through a confidence vote, in order to receive a mandate
to lead the Government of Croatia
. The president may also call referenda
, grant pardon
s and award decorations and other forms of recognition defined by legislation.
. This provision of the constitution is an occasional source of conflict between the president and the government. The president decides on the establishment of diplomatic missions and consular offices of the Republic of Croatia abroad, at the Government's proposal and with the counter-signature of the Prime Minister. The president, following prior counter-signature of the Prime Minister, appoints and recalls diplomatic representatives of the Republic of Croatia, at the proposal of the Government and upon receiving the opinion of an applicable committee of the parliament. The president receives letters of credence
and letters of recall from foreign diplomatic representatives.
of the armed forces of the Republic of Croatia
and appoints and relieves military commanders of duty, conforming to applicable legislation. Pursuant to decisions of the parliament, the president declares war and concludes peace. In cases of immediate threats to the independence, unity and existence of the state, the president may order the use of armed forces, even if no state of war is declared, provided that such an order is countersigned
by the prime minister. During a state of war, the president may promulgate regulations with the force of law on the basis of, and within the scope of, authority obtained from the parliament. In such circumstances, the president may convene government cabinet meetings and preside over them. If the parliament is not in session, the president is authorized to regulate all matters required by the state of war through regulations carrying the force of law. In case of an immediate threat to the independence, unity and existence of the state, or if the governmental bodies are prevented from performing their constitutional duties regularly, the president may, at the proposal of the prime minister, issue regulations carrying the force of law. Such regulations must also be countersigned by the prime minister to become valid. The president is required to submit regulations that are promulgated thus to the parliament for approval as soon as the parliament may convene, otherwise the regulations become void. The president cooperates with the government directing operation of the Croatian security and intelligence system
. The president and the prime minister jointly appoint heads of the security agencies, and the president may attend cabinet meetings, taking part in discussions held at such meetings.
supported by a majority of the parliament members, or if the parliament fails to approve the government budget
within 120 days after the budget is proposed in the parliament. However, the president may not dissolve the parliament at the request of the government if a procedure to determine if the president has violated provisions of the constitution is in progress.
, the office was allocated 54 million kuna
( 7.3 million euro
). The net monthly salary of the president is 23,500 kuna ( 3,170 euro).
The Office of the President was created by a presidential decree by Franjo Tuđman on January 19, 1991. The Office is headed by a Chief of Staff , who is appointed by the president. As of November 2011, no Office of the President of the Republic Act has been enacted, even though the constitution requires so. Instead, the presidents declare bylaws regulating composition of the office. The office employs advisors to the president and comprises eight departments, four councils, presidential pardon commission and two decorations and awards commissions. Since February 2010, Joško Klisović is the chief of staff.
) in Zagreb
is the official residence
of the president. The president does not actually live in the building, as it is used as the Office of the President of Croatia rather than as a residence. The structure covers 3700 square metres (4,425.2 sq yd). It is used as the official residence since then president Franjo Tuđman moved there following the October 1991 bombing of Banski dvori
. In addition to the original building, there is also an 3500 square metres (4,186 sq yd) annex built in 1993, an ancillary structure housing office security services and a bomb shelter
predating the 1990s. The building, formerly known as Villa Zagorje or Tito's Villa, was designed by architects Vjenceslav Richter
and Kazimir Ostrogović and completed in 1964 for the former Yugoslav president Josip Broz Tito
.
, through a secret ballot
, for a five year term. If no candidate in the elections
secures more than 50% of the votes, a runoff election is held in 14 days. The Constitution of Croatia
sets a limit to a maximum of two terms in office and requires election dates to be determined within 30 to 60 days before the expiry of the term of the incumbent president.
The constitution requires that the president-elect
resign from political party membership. The president-elect is also required to resign from the parliament as well. Before assuming presidential duty, the president-elect is required to take an oath of office
before the judges of the Constitutional Court, swearing loyalty to the Constitution of Croatia. The inauguration ceremony is traditionally held at St. Mark's Square
in Zagreb
, in front of the St. Mark's Church
, midway between the building of the Parliament of Croatia and Banski dvori
—the seat of the Government of Croatia. The text of the oath is defined by the Presidential Elections Act amendments of 1997.
for the first time on 2 August 1992
, simultaneously with the 1992 parliamentary elections. Voter turnout was 74.9%. The result was a victory for Franjo Tuđman of the Croatian Democratic Union
(HDZ), who received 57.8% of the vote in the first round of the elections, ahead of 7 other candidates. Dražen Budiša
, the Croatian Social Liberal Party
(HSLS) candidate and runner-up in the election, received 22.3% of the vote. The second presidential elections
in modern Croatia were held on 15 June 1997. The incumbent, Franjo Tuđman ran opposed by Zdravko Tomac
, the candidate of the Social Democratic Party of Croatia
(SDP), and Vlado Gotovac, nominated by the HSLS. Tomac and Gotovac received 21.0% and 17.6% of votes respectively in the first round of voting, and Tuđman secured another term. The third presidential elections
were held on 24 January 2000, to fill the office of the President of the Republic, after the incumbent Franjo Tuđman died on 10 December 1999. The first round of voting saw Stjepan Mesić
, candidate of the Croatian People's Party (HNS) in the lead, receiving 41.3% of votes, followed by Dražen Budiša of the HSLS with 27.8% of votes and Mate Granić
, nominated by the HDZ, receiving 22.6% of votes. The runoff election, the first in the presidential elections of modern Croatia, was held on 7 February, when Mesić won, picking up 56.9% of votes. Voter turnout in the first round was 63.0% and 60.9% in the runoff. The first round of the fourth presidential elections
was held on 2 January 2005. No candidate secured a first-round victory; however, the incumbent Mesić enjoyed a substantial lead over other candidates, as he received 48.9% of votes, and the second and third ranked candidates Jadranka Kosor
(HDZ) and Boris Mikšić
(independent
) managed only 20.3% and 17.8% of voter support respectively. Ultimately, Mesić won reelection, receiving 65.9% of votes in the runoff held on 16 January. The most recent Croatian presidential election was held on 27 December 2009, with Ivo Josipović
(SDP) picking up 32.4% of votes, followed by Milan Bandić
(independent), Andrija Hebrang
(HDZ) and Nadan Vidošević
(independent) receiving 14.8%, 12.0% and 11.3% of the votes respectively. The second round of voting was held on 10 January 2010, when Josipović defeated Bandić, receiving 60.3% of the vote.
—the president may not be arrested nor can any criminal proceedings may be instituted against the president without prior consent of the Constitutional Court. The immunity does not apply only if the president has been caught in the act of committing a criminal offense which carries a penalty of imprisonment of more than five years. In such a case the state body which has detained the president must notify the President of the Constitutional Court immediately.
The President of Croatia is impeachable
for any violation of the Constitution committed in performance of duties. Impeachment proceedings may be initiated by the Parliament of Croatia by a two-thirds majority vote of all members of the parliament. The impeachment of the president is then decided by the Constitutional Court by a two-thirds majority vote of all its judges. If the Constitutional Court impeaches the president, the president's term is terminated.
In case of death or resignation submitted to the President of the Constitutional Court and communicated to the Speaker of the parliament, or in cases when the Constitutional Court decides to terminate of the presidential term through impeachment, the Speaker of the parliament becomes acting president. In those circumstances, new legislation is countersigned by the Prime Minister instead of the president and a new presidential election must be held within 60 days. This situation occurred after the death of Franjo Tuđman on 10 December 1999, when Vlatko Pavletić
became the acting president. After the parliamentary elections of 2000
, the role was transferred to Zlatko Tomčić
, who filled the office until Stjepan Mesić
was elected President of Croatia in 2000
.
as a symbol of honour of the office of the president. The presidential standard is square, blue field with a thin border of alternating red and white squares—29 on each side. In the centre of the blue field there is the main shield of the coat of arms of Croatia
with historical arms of Croatia surrounding the main shield. From left to right those are the oldest known coat of arms of Croatia and arms of Republic of Dubrovnik, Dalmatia
, Istria
and Slavonia
, adorned with bands of gold, red and white stripes extending down vertically. Atop the shield there is a Croatian tricolour
ribbon with golden letters RH standing for the Republic of Croatia, executed in Roman square capitals
. The presidential standard is flown on buildings of the Office of the President of Croatia, residence of the president and transportation vehicles when in use by the president, and in other ceremonial occasions. The presidential standard was designed by Miroslav Šutej
in 1990.
The presidential sash is Croatian tricolour band trimmed with gold and adorned with the coat of arms of Croatia placed in the white field of the tricolour at the front. The arms are bordered by oak branches on its left and olive branches on its right. The sash is worn diagonally, over the right shoulder and is fastened using a square clasp trimmed with golden Croatian interlace and adorned with the arms used on the presidential standard, although without the ribbon used in the arms. The constitution specifies that the sash is worn on the Statehood Day
, during awards ceremonies, during acceptance of letters of credence
and in other ceremonial occasions. The presidential sash was not in use since 2000 inauguration of Stjepan Mesić.
within SFR Yugoslavia was led by a group of communist party functionaries who formed a collective Presidency with the president of the Presidency at its head. The first democratic elections of 1990
did not elect members of the Presidency directly. Rather, the parliament was tasked with filling these positions as it had done in the socialist period. The Croatian Democratic Union
won the elections and its leader Franjo Tuđman assumed the presidency of the Presidency on May 30, 1990. On July 25, the parliament passed several constitutional amendments, including amendment LXXI which created the position of President and of Vice-Presidents. The Christmas Constitution
passed on December 22, 1990 established the government as a semi-presidential system
and called for presidential elections.
Tuđman won presidential elections in 1992
and 1997
. During his reign, Constitution of Croatia
adopted in 1990 provided for a semi-presidential system. After his death in 1999, the constitution was amended and much of the presidential powers were transferred to the parliament and the government
. Stjepan Mesić
won two consecutive terms, in 2000
on Croatian People's Party (HNS) ticket and in 2005
, the maximum permitted by the constitution. Ivo Josipović
, an SDP candidate, won the presidential elections held in December 2009 and January 2010.
Style (manner of address)
A style of office, or honorific, is a legal, official, or recognized title. A style, by tradition or law, precedes a reference to a person who holds a post or political office, and is sometimes used to refer to the office itself. An honorific can also be awarded to an individual in a personal...
the President of the Republic represents the Republic of Croatia
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 ...
in the country and abroad as the head of state
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
, maintains the regular and coordinated operation and stability of the national government system, and safeguards the independence and territorial integrity of the country. The president calls elections for 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...
as well as referenda
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
. The president also appoints prime ministers on the basis of the balance of power in the parliament, grants pardon
Pardon
Clemency means the forgiveness of a crime or the cancellation of the penalty associated with it. It is a general concept that encompasses several related procedures: pardoning, commutation, remission and reprieves...
s and awards decorations and other forms of state awards. The President of Croatia and the government
Government of Croatia
The Government of the Republic of Croatia , commonly abbreviated to Croatian Government , is the main element of the executive branch of government in Croatia. It is led by the President of the Government , commonly abbreviated to premier...
cooperate in the area of foreign policy
Foreign relations of Croatia
The following page shows the foreign relations of Croatia from past history, current events, international disputes and foreign support.-History:...
, and the president is the commander-in-chief
Commander-in-Chief
A commander-in-chief is the commander of a nation's military forces or significant element of those forces. In the latter case, the force element may be defined as those forces within a particular region or those forces which are associated by function. As a practical term it refers to the military...
of the Croatian armed forces
Military of Croatia
Croatian military is officially called Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia and it consists of three branches:* Croatian Army * Croatian Navy...
while directing the operation of the Croatian security and intelligence system
Croatian security and intelligence system
The core of the security and intelligence system of the Republic of Croatia consists of two security and intelligence agencies:*Security and Intelligence Agency , and...
jointly with the government. The president may dissolve the parliament as provided by the constitution
Constitution of Croatia
The current Constitution of the Republic of Croatia was adopted by the Parliament of the Republic of Croatia on December 22, 1990. It replaced the Constitution of 1974 ratified in socialist Yugoslavia...
. Although enjoying immunity
Parliamentary immunity
Parliamentary immunity, also known as legislative immunity, is a system in which members of the parliament or legislature are granted partial immunity from prosecution. Before prosecuting, it is necessary that the immunity be removed, usually by a superior court of justice or by the parliament itself...
, the president is impeachable
Impeachment
Impeachment is a formal process in which an official is accused of unlawful activity, the outcome of which, depending on the country, may include the removal of that official from office as well as other punishment....
for any violation of the constitution. In case of incapacitation to discharge duties of office, the Speaker of the parliament assumes the office of acting president until the president resumes duty, or until the election and inauguration of a new president. The inauguration ceremony is held at St. Mark's Square
St. Mark's Square, Zagreb
St. Mark's Square is a square located in the old part of Zagreb, Croatia, called Gradec or Gornji grad .In the center of square is located St. Mark's Church. The square also sports important governmental buildings: Banski dvori , Croatian Parliament and Constitutional Court of Croatia. On the...
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...
, in front of the St. Mark's Church
St. Mark's Church, Zagreb
Church of St. Mark is the parish church of old Zagreb.-Overview:The Romanesque window found in its south facade is the best evidence that the church must have been built as early as the 13th century as is also the semicircular groundplan of St...
, halfway between the parliament and Banski dvori
Banski dvori
Banski dvori |Courts]] of the Ban) is the name of the historical building on the west side of St. Mark's Square in Zagreb, Croatia. It is the historical official residence of the Croatian Bans, who where the Croatian Viceroys after 1102...
—the seat of the government.
The Office of the President of the Republic
Office of the President of Croatia
The Office of the President of the Republic consists of the support staff of the President of Croatia, as well as various advisors to the president. As of 2008, the office employed 170 people. The Office of the President was created by a presidential decree by Franjo Tuđman in January 1991. The...
consists of the immediate staff of the president of Croatia, as well as support staff reporting to the president. It was established by a presidential decree by Franjo Tuđman on 19 January 1991. The office employs advisors to the president and comprises eight departments, four councils, a presidential pardon commission and two decorations and awards commissions. The office is headquartered in the Presidential Palace
Presidential Palace, Zagreb
The Presidential Palace in Zagreb is the official residence of the President of Croatia. The president does not actually live in the building as it is used to house the Office of the President of Croatia rather than as a residence. The structure covers and in 2009 government budget, it was...
in the Pantovčak
Pantovcak
Pantovčak is a neighborhood in Zagreb, Croatia. Its formal location is the Gornji Grad - Medveščak city district. The Pantovčak street runs from the Britanski trg near Ilica towards Medvednica, ending at Šestinski vijenac . The neighbourhood is officially referred to as "Dr...
area of Zagreb.
The president is elected on the basis of universal suffrage
Suffrage
Suffrage, political franchise, or simply the franchise, distinct from mere voting rights, is the civil right to vote gained through the democratic process...
, through a secret ballot
Secret ballot
The secret ballot is a voting method in which a voter's choices in an election or a referendum are anonymous. The key aim is to ensure the voter records a sincere choice by forestalling attempts to influence the voter by intimidation or bribery. The system is one means of achieving the goal of...
, for a five year term. If no candidate in the elections
Elections in Croatia
Constitution of Croatia and legislation enacted by the Parliament of Croatia provide for regular elections in Croatia for the office of the President of Croatia, the parliament, county prefects and assemblies, city and municipal mayors as well as city and municipal councils...
secures more than 50% of the votes, a runoff election is held in 14 days. The Constitution of Croatia sets a limit to a maximum of two terms in office and requires election dates to be determined within 30 to 60 days before the expiry of the term of the incumbent president. The president-elect is required to take an the oath of office
Oath of office
An oath of office is an oath or affirmation a person takes before undertaking the duties of an office, usually a position in government or within a religious body, although such oaths are sometimes required of officers of other organizations...
before the judges of the Constitutional Court. Franjo Tuđman won the first Croatian presidential elections in 1992
Croatian presidential election, 1992
Presidential elections were held in Croatia for the first time on 2 August 1992 alongside simultaneous parliamentary elections. The result was a victory for Franjo Tuđman of the Croatian Democratic Union , who received 57.8% of the vote...
and 1997
Croatian presidential election, 1997
Presidential elections were held in Croatia on 15 June 1997. The result was a victory for Franjo Tuđman of the Croatian Democratic Union , who received 61.4% of the vote. Voter turnout was 54.6%.-Results:...
. During his time in office, the constitution of 1990 provided for a semi-presidential system
Semi-presidential system
The semi-presidential system is a system of government in which a president and a prime minister are both active participants in the day-to-day administration of the state...
. After his death in 1999, the constitution was amended and much of the presidential powers were transferred to the parliament and the government
Parliamentary system
A parliamentary system is a system of government in which the ministers of the executive branch get their democratic legitimacy from the legislature and are accountable to that body, such that the executive and legislative branches are intertwined....
. Stjepan Mesić
Stjepan Mesić
Stjepan "Stipe" Mesić is a Croatian politician and former President of Croatia. Before his ten-year presidential term between 2000 and 2010 he held the posts of Speaker of the Croatian Parliament , Prime Minister of Croatia , the last President of the Presidency of Yugoslavia , Secretary General...
won two consecutive terms, in 2000
Croatian presidential election, 2000
Presidential elections were held in Croatia on 24 January 2000. As no candidate passed the 50% threshold, a secound round was held on 7 February, the first time a second round had been required in the country's history. The result was a victory for Stjepan Mesić of the Croatian People's Party, who...
on the Croatian People's Party (HNS) ticket and in 2005
Croatian presidential election, 2005
The fourth presidential elections in Croatia took place in two rounds in January 2005.-Background:The State Elections Committee published a list of candidates on 15 December 2004. President Stjepan Mesić stood for re-election, and the governing HDZ nominated cabinet minister Jadranka Kosor...
, the maximum term permitted by the constitution. Ivo Josipović
Ivo Josipović
Ivo Josipović is a Croatian politician who has been President of Croatia since 2010. Josipović entered politics as a member of the League of Communists of Croatia , and played a key role in the democratic transformation of this party as the author of the first statute of the SDP that replaced the...
, an SDP candidate, won the presidential elections held in December 2009 and January 2010.
The Constitution of Croatia defines the appearance and use of the presidential standard as a symbol of the President of Croatia, and the appearance and use of the presidential sash
Presidential sash
A presidential sash is a cloth sash worn by presidents of many nations in the world. Such sashes are worn by presidents in Africa, Asia, Europe, and most notably, in Latin America....
as a symbol of honour of the office of the president. The presidential standard is flown on buildings of the Office of the President of Croatia, the residence of the president, the transportation vehicles when in use by the president, and in other ceremonial occasions. The constitution specifies that the sash is worn on Statehood Day
Statehood Day (Croatia)
Statehood Day is a holiday that occurs every year on June 25 in Croatia to celebrate the country's 1991 declaration of independence from Yugoslavia. The Statehood Day is an official holiday, a day off work in Croatia....
, during awards ceremonies, during the acceptance of letters of credence
Letter of Credence
A letter of credence is a formal letter usually sent by one head of state to another that formally grants diplomatic accreditation to a named individual to be their ambassador in the country of the head of state receiving the letter...
and in other ceremonial occasions; however, the presidential sash has not been in use since the 2000 inauguration of Stjepan Mesić.
Powers, duties and responsibilities
The President of Croatia, officially styledStyle (manner of address)
A style of office, or honorific, is a legal, official, or recognized title. A style, by tradition or law, precedes a reference to a person who holds a post or political office, and is sometimes used to refer to the office itself. An honorific can also be awarded to an individual in a personal...
the President of the Republic represents the Republic of Croatia
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 ...
in the country and abroad as the head of state
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
, maintains the regular and coordinated operation and stability of the national government system and safeguards the independence and territorial integrity of the country. The president is barred from executing any other public or professional duty while in office.
The President of Croatia calls elections for 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...
and convenes the first meeting of the parliamentary assembly. The president is also required to appoint a prime minister, on the basis of the balance of power in the parliament. The appointed candidate is in turn required to seek confirmation from the parliament through a confidence vote, in order to receive a mandate
Mandate (politics)
In politics, a mandate is the authority granted by a constituency to act as its representative.The concept of a government having a legitimate mandate to govern via the fair winning of a democratic election is a central idea of democracy...
to lead the Government of Croatia
Government of Croatia
The Government of the Republic of Croatia , commonly abbreviated to Croatian Government , is the main element of the executive branch of government in Croatia. It is led by the President of the Government , commonly abbreviated to premier...
. The president may also call referenda
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
, grant pardon
Pardon
Clemency means the forgiveness of a crime or the cancellation of the penalty associated with it. It is a general concept that encompasses several related procedures: pardoning, commutation, remission and reprieves...
s and award decorations and other forms of recognition defined by legislation.
Foreign affairs
The President of Croatia and the Government cooperate in the formulation and implementation of Croatian foreign policyForeign relations of Croatia
The following page shows the foreign relations of Croatia from past history, current events, international disputes and foreign support.-History:...
. This provision of the constitution is an occasional source of conflict between the president and the government. The president decides on the establishment of diplomatic missions and consular offices of the Republic of Croatia abroad, at the Government's proposal and with the counter-signature of the Prime Minister. The president, following prior counter-signature of the Prime Minister, appoints and recalls diplomatic representatives of the Republic of Croatia, at the proposal of the Government and upon receiving the opinion of an applicable committee of the parliament. The president receives letters of credence
Letter of Credence
A letter of credence is a formal letter usually sent by one head of state to another that formally grants diplomatic accreditation to a named individual to be their ambassador in the country of the head of state receiving the letter...
and letters of recall from foreign diplomatic representatives.
National security and defense
The President of Croatia is the commander-in-chiefCommander-in-Chief
A commander-in-chief is the commander of a nation's military forces or significant element of those forces. In the latter case, the force element may be defined as those forces within a particular region or those forces which are associated by function. As a practical term it refers to the military...
of the armed forces of the Republic of Croatia
Military of Croatia
Croatian military is officially called Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia and it consists of three branches:* Croatian Army * Croatian Navy...
and appoints and relieves military commanders of duty, conforming to applicable legislation. Pursuant to decisions of the parliament, the president declares war and concludes peace. In cases of immediate threats to the independence, unity and existence of the state, the president may order the use of armed forces, even if no state of war is declared, provided that such an order is countersigned
Countersign (legal)
Countersigning means writing a second signature onto a document. For example, a contract or other official document signed by the representative of a company may be countersigned by his supervisor to verify the authority of the representative...
by the prime minister. During a state of war, the president may promulgate regulations with the force of law on the basis of, and within the scope of, authority obtained from the parliament. In such circumstances, the president may convene government cabinet meetings and preside over them. If the parliament is not in session, the president is authorized to regulate all matters required by the state of war through regulations carrying the force of law. In case of an immediate threat to the independence, unity and existence of the state, or if the governmental bodies are prevented from performing their constitutional duties regularly, the president may, at the proposal of the prime minister, issue regulations carrying the force of law. Such regulations must also be countersigned by the prime minister to become valid. The president is required to submit regulations that are promulgated thus to the parliament for approval as soon as the parliament may convene, otherwise the regulations become void. The president cooperates with the government directing operation of the Croatian security and intelligence system
Croatian security and intelligence system
The core of the security and intelligence system of the Republic of Croatia consists of two security and intelligence agencies:*Security and Intelligence Agency , and...
. The president and the prime minister jointly appoint heads of the security agencies, and the president may attend cabinet meetings, taking part in discussions held at such meetings.
Dissolution of Parliament
The President of Croatia may dissolve the parliament upon the request of the government. That decision must be countersigned by the prime minister to become valid. The president may also dissolve the parliament after a motion of no confidenceMotion of no confidence
A motion of no confidence is a parliamentary motion whose passing would demonstrate to the head of state that the elected parliament no longer has confidence in the appointed government.-Overview:Typically, when a parliament passes a vote of no...
supported by a majority of the parliament members, or if the parliament fails to approve the government budget
Government budget
A government budget is a legal document that is often passed by the legislature, and approved by the chief executive-or president. For example, only certain types of revenue may be imposed and collected...
within 120 days after the budget is proposed in the parliament. However, the president may not dissolve the parliament at the request of the government if a procedure to determine if the president has violated provisions of the constitution is in progress.
Office of the President of Croatia
The Office of the President of the Republic consists of the immediate staff of the President of Croatia, as well as support staff reporting to the president. As of May 2008, the office employed 170 staff, with the maximum staffing level set at 191 by the Regulation on Internal Organisation of the Office of the President of Croatia. In 2009 government budgetGovernment budget
A government budget is a legal document that is often passed by the legislature, and approved by the chief executive-or president. For example, only certain types of revenue may be imposed and collected...
, the office was allocated 54 million kuna
Croatian kuna
The kuna is the currency of Croatia since 1994 . It is subdivided into 100 lipa. The kuna is issued by the Croatian National Bank and the coins are minted by the Croatian Monetary Institute....
( 7.3 million euro
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
). The net monthly salary of the president is 23,500 kuna ( 3,170 euro).
The Office of the President was created by a presidential decree by Franjo Tuđman on January 19, 1991. The Office is headed by a Chief of Staff , who is appointed by the president. As of November 2011, no Office of the President of the Republic Act has been enacted, even though the constitution requires so. Instead, the presidents declare bylaws regulating composition of the office. The office employs advisors to the president and comprises eight departments, four councils, presidential pardon commission and two decorations and awards commissions. Since February 2010, Joško Klisović is the chief of staff.
| Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia | |
|---|---|
| Position | Name |
| Chief of Staff | Joško Klisović |
| Head of the Personal Office of the President | Danica Juričić Spasović |
| Assistant Head of the Personal Office of the President | Ana Šimundža |
| Secretary of the Office of the President of the Republic | Mirjam Katulić |
| Departments of the Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia | |
|---|---|
| Department | Head |
| Military Affaris | Major General Krešimir Kašpar |
| Protocol of the President of the Republic | Petra Furdek |
| Press and Information Department | Danja Šilović Karić |
| Legal Affairs and Human Resources | Jasna Prka |
| Department for Computerization | Zdravko Galić |
| Decoration and Awards Department | Colonel Mirko Marjan |
| Department for Relations with Citizens | Sandra Krvavica |
| Department for Technical and Auxiliary Services | Milodrag Pralas |
| Councils of the Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia | ||
|---|---|---|
| Council | Head | Tasks |
| Foreign Policy and International Relations Council | Budimir Lončar | Analysis of foreign policy issues |
| Social Justice Council | Dušanka Marinković-Drača | Analysis of human rights, labour and social issues and of achievement of social responsibility |
| War Veterans Council | Petar Stipetić | Analysis of issues related to 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... and World War II World War II World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis... veterans and their families |
| Economy Council | Prof. Boris Cota, PhD | Counseling the President of Croatia on current economic issues |
| Commissions of the Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia | ||
|---|---|---|
| Commission | Head | Tasks |
| Presidential Pardon Commission | Prof. Vladimir Ljubanović, PhD | Issuing presidential pardon Pardon Clemency means the forgiveness of a crime or the cancellation of the penalty associated with it. It is a general concept that encompasses several related procedures: pardoning, commutation, remission and reprieves... s |
| Civilian Decorations and Awards Commission | Academician Milan Moguš Milan Moguš -Biography:He is born in Senj, where he finished primary school and high school. In the academic year 1948/49 he attended in Faculty of Philosophy in Zagreb and he graduated in 1953... |
Awarding civilian decorations and awards |
| Military Decorations and Awards Commission | Imra Agotić | Awarding military decorations and awards |
Presidential Palace
The Presidential Palace ' onMouseout='HidePop("4535")' href="/topics/Pantovcak">PantovčakPantovcak
Pantovčak is a neighborhood in Zagreb, Croatia. Its formal location is the Gornji Grad - Medveščak city district. The Pantovčak street runs from the Britanski trg near Ilica towards Medvednica, ending at Šestinski vijenac . The neighbourhood is officially referred to as "Dr...
) 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...
is the official residence
Official residence
An official residence is the residence at which heads of state, heads of government, gubernatorial or other senior figures officially reside...
of the president. The president does not actually live in the building, as it is used as the Office of the President of Croatia rather than as a residence. The structure covers 3700 square metres (4,425.2 sq yd). It is used as the official residence since then president Franjo Tuđman moved there following the October 1991 bombing of Banski dvori
Bombing of Banski dvori
The Bombing of Banski dvori was a Yugoslav People's Army air strike on Banski dvori, the official residence of the Government of Croatia in Zagreb, on 7 October 1991, during the Croatian War of Independence....
. In addition to the original building, there is also an 3500 square metres (4,186 sq yd) annex built in 1993, an ancillary structure housing office security services and a bomb shelter
Bomb shelter
A bomb shelter is any kind of a civil defense structure designed to provide protection against the effects of a bomb.-Types of shelter:Different kinds of bomb shelters are configured to protect against different kinds of attack and strengths of hostile explosives. For example, an Air-raid shelter...
predating the 1990s. The building, formerly known as Villa Zagorje or Tito's Villa, was designed by architects Vjenceslav Richter
Vjenceslav Richter
Vjenceslav Richter was a Croatian architect. He was also known for his work in the fields of urbanism, sculpture, graphic arts, painting and stage design.-Career:...
and Kazimir Ostrogović and completed in 1964 for the former Yugoslav president Josip Broz Tito
Josip Broz Tito
Marshal Josip Broz Tito – 4 May 1980) was a Yugoslav revolutionary and statesman. While his presidency has been criticized as authoritarian, Tito was a popular public figure both in Yugoslavia and abroad, viewed as a unifying symbol for the nations of the Yugoslav federation...
.
Election and taking office
The president is elected on the basis of universal suffrageSuffrage
Suffrage, political franchise, or simply the franchise, distinct from mere voting rights, is the civil right to vote gained through the democratic process...
, through a secret ballot
Secret ballot
The secret ballot is a voting method in which a voter's choices in an election or a referendum are anonymous. The key aim is to ensure the voter records a sincere choice by forestalling attempts to influence the voter by intimidation or bribery. The system is one means of achieving the goal of...
, for a five year term. If no candidate in the elections
Elections in Croatia
Constitution of Croatia and legislation enacted by the Parliament of Croatia provide for regular elections in Croatia for the office of the President of Croatia, the parliament, county prefects and assemblies, city and municipal mayors as well as city and municipal councils...
secures more than 50% of the votes, a runoff election is held in 14 days. The Constitution of Croatia
Constitution of Croatia
The current Constitution of the Republic of Croatia was adopted by the Parliament of the Republic of Croatia on December 22, 1990. It replaced the Constitution of 1974 ratified in socialist Yugoslavia...
sets a limit to a maximum of two terms in office and requires election dates to be determined within 30 to 60 days before the expiry of the term of the incumbent president.
The constitution requires that the president-elect
President-elect
An -elect is a political candidate who has been elected to an office but who has not yet been sworn in or officially taken office. These may include an incoming president, senator, representative, governor and mayor.Analogously, the term "designate" An -elect is a political candidate who has been...
resign from political party membership. The president-elect is also required to resign from the parliament as well. Before assuming presidential duty, the president-elect is required to take an oath of office
Oath of office
An oath of office is an oath or affirmation a person takes before undertaking the duties of an office, usually a position in government or within a religious body, although such oaths are sometimes required of officers of other organizations...
before the judges of the Constitutional Court, swearing loyalty to the Constitution of Croatia. The inauguration ceremony is traditionally held at St. Mark's Square
St. Mark's Square, Zagreb
St. Mark's Square is a square located in the old part of Zagreb, Croatia, called Gradec or Gornji grad .In the center of square is located St. Mark's Church. The square also sports important governmental buildings: Banski dvori , Croatian Parliament and Constitutional Court of Croatia. On the...
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...
, in front of the St. Mark's Church
St. Mark's Church, Zagreb
Church of St. Mark is the parish church of old Zagreb.-Overview:The Romanesque window found in its south facade is the best evidence that the church must have been built as early as the 13th century as is also the semicircular groundplan of St...
, midway between the building of the Parliament of Croatia and Banski dvori
Banski dvori
Banski dvori |Courts]] of the Ban) is the name of the historical building on the west side of St. Mark's Square in Zagreb, Croatia. It is the historical official residence of the Croatian Bans, who where the Croatian Viceroys after 1102...
—the seat of the Government of Croatia. The text of the oath is defined by the Presidential Elections Act amendments of 1997.
Presidential elections
Presidential elections were held in CroatiaCroatia
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 ...
for the first time on 2 August 1992
Croatian presidential election, 1992
Presidential elections were held in Croatia for the first time on 2 August 1992 alongside simultaneous parliamentary elections. The result was a victory for Franjo Tuđman of the Croatian Democratic Union , who received 57.8% of the vote...
, simultaneously with the 1992 parliamentary elections. Voter turnout was 74.9%. The result was a victory for Franjo Tuđman 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...
(HDZ), who received 57.8% of the vote in the first round of the elections, ahead of 7 other candidates. Dražen Budiša
Dražen Budiša
Dražen Budiša is a Croatian politician who used to be leading opposition figure in the 1990s and a two-time presidential candidate.-During Yugoslavia:...
, the 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...
(HSLS) candidate and runner-up in the election, received 22.3% of the vote. The second presidential elections
Croatian presidential election, 1997
Presidential elections were held in Croatia on 15 June 1997. The result was a victory for Franjo Tuđman of the Croatian Democratic Union , who received 61.4% of the vote. Voter turnout was 54.6%.-Results:...
in modern Croatia were held on 15 June 1997. The incumbent, Franjo Tuđman ran opposed by Zdravko Tomac
Zdravko Tomac
Zdravko Tomac is a Croatian politician.A native of Slavonski Brod, Zdravko Tomac began his political career in Communist Party of Yugoslavia. There he rose through the ranks, becoming close associate of Jakov Blažević...
, the candidate of the Social Democratic Party of Croatia
Social Democratic Party of Croatia
Social Democratic Party of Croatia , commonly referred to in Croatia as simply Social Democratic Party , is the largest centre-left political party in Croatia...
(SDP), and Vlado Gotovac, nominated by the HSLS. Tomac and Gotovac received 21.0% and 17.6% of votes respectively in the first round of voting, and Tuđman secured another term. The third presidential elections
Croatian presidential election, 2000
Presidential elections were held in Croatia on 24 January 2000. As no candidate passed the 50% threshold, a secound round was held on 7 February, the first time a second round had been required in the country's history. The result was a victory for Stjepan Mesić of the Croatian People's Party, who...
were held on 24 January 2000, to fill the office of the President of the Republic, after the incumbent Franjo Tuđman died on 10 December 1999. The first round of voting saw Stjepan Mesić
Stjepan Mesić
Stjepan "Stipe" Mesić is a Croatian politician and former President of Croatia. Before his ten-year presidential term between 2000 and 2010 he held the posts of Speaker of the Croatian Parliament , Prime Minister of Croatia , the last President of the Presidency of Yugoslavia , Secretary General...
, candidate of the Croatian People's Party (HNS) in the lead, receiving 41.3% of votes, followed by Dražen Budiša of the HSLS with 27.8% of votes and Mate Granić
Mate Granic
Mate Granić is a Croatian diplomat and politician who was part of the Croatian Government in much of the 1990s.Granić was born in Baška Voda in Dalmatia...
, nominated by the HDZ, receiving 22.6% of votes. The runoff election, the first in the presidential elections of modern Croatia, was held on 7 February, when Mesić won, picking up 56.9% of votes. Voter turnout in the first round was 63.0% and 60.9% in the runoff. The first round of the fourth presidential elections
Croatian presidential election, 2005
The fourth presidential elections in Croatia took place in two rounds in January 2005.-Background:The State Elections Committee published a list of candidates on 15 December 2004. President Stjepan Mesić stood for re-election, and the governing HDZ nominated cabinet minister Jadranka Kosor...
was held on 2 January 2005. No candidate secured a first-round victory; however, the incumbent Mesić enjoyed a substantial lead over other candidates, as he received 48.9% of votes, and the second and third ranked candidates Jadranka Kosor
Jadranka Kosor
Jadranka Kosor is a Croatian politician and former journalist. She is the current Prime Minister of Croatia, having taken office on July 6, 2009, following the sudden resignation of her predecessor Ivo Sanader. She is Croatia's first female Prime Minister since independence.-Early life:Jadranka...
(HDZ) and Boris Mikšić
Boris Mikšic
Boris Mikšić is a Croatian businessman and politician.Mikšić was born in Zagreb, then part of SFR Yugoslavia. He graduated from the University of Zagreb Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture in 1973...
(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...
) managed only 20.3% and 17.8% of voter support respectively. Ultimately, Mesić won reelection, receiving 65.9% of votes in the runoff held on 16 January. The most recent Croatian presidential election was held on 27 December 2009, with Ivo Josipović
Ivo Josipović
Ivo Josipović is a Croatian politician who has been President of Croatia since 2010. Josipović entered politics as a member of the League of Communists of Croatia , and played a key role in the democratic transformation of this party as the author of the first statute of the SDP that replaced the...
(SDP) picking up 32.4% of votes, followed by Milan Bandić
Milan Bandic
Milan Bandić is an influential Croatian politician currently serving his fourth term as mayor of Croatia's capital, Zagreb. Between 2000 and 2009, he was a prominent member of the Social Democratic Party of Croatia . In 2007, he unsuccessfully ran for party president. However, he remained one of...
(independent), Andrija Hebrang
Andrija Hebrang (son)
Andrija Hebrang is a Croatian physician and politician. A member of the Croatian Democratic Union , he is currently member of the Croatian Parliament...
(HDZ) and Nadan Vidošević
Nadan Vidošević
Nadan Vidošević is a Croatian politician, businessman and entrepreneur. He was a long-time member of the Croatian Democratic Union, before he launched an independent and ultimately unsuccessful candidacy in the 2009-2010 Croatian presidential election.-Overview:Vidošević graduated from Faculty of...
(independent) receiving 14.8%, 12.0% and 11.3% of the votes respectively. The second round of voting was held on 10 January 2010, when Josipović defeated Bandić, receiving 60.3% of the vote.
| Election | Candidates | First round voter turnout |
First round results (candidates with more than 10% of votes) |
Second round voter turnout |
Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 Croatian presidential election, 1992 Presidential elections were held in Croatia for the first time on 2 August 1992 alongside simultaneous parliamentary elections. The result was a victory for Franjo Tuđman of the Croatian Democratic Union , who received 57.8% of the vote... |
8 | 74.90% | Franjo Tuđman (57.8%), Dražen Budiša Dražen Budiša Dražen Budiša is a Croatian politician who used to be leading opposition figure in the 1990s and a two-time presidential candidate.-During Yugoslavia:... (22.3%) |
Franjo Tuđman | |
| 1997 Croatian presidential election, 1997 Presidential elections were held in Croatia on 15 June 1997. The result was a victory for Franjo Tuđman of the Croatian Democratic Union , who received 61.4% of the vote. Voter turnout was 54.6%.-Results:... |
3 | 54.62% | Franjo Tuđman (61.4%), Zdravko Tomac Zdravko Tomac Zdravko Tomac is a Croatian politician.A native of Slavonski Brod, Zdravko Tomac began his political career in Communist Party of Yugoslavia. There he rose through the ranks, becoming close associate of Jakov Blažević... (21.0%), Vlado Gotovac (17.6%) |
Franjo Tuđman | |
| 2000 Croatian presidential election, 2000 Presidential elections were held in Croatia on 24 January 2000. As no candidate passed the 50% threshold, a secound round was held on 7 February, the first time a second round had been required in the country's history. The result was a victory for Stjepan Mesić of the Croatian People's Party, who... |
9 | 62.98% | Stjepan Mesić Stjepan Mesić Stjepan "Stipe" Mesić is a Croatian politician and former President of Croatia. Before his ten-year presidential term between 2000 and 2010 he held the posts of Speaker of the Croatian Parliament , Prime Minister of Croatia , the last President of the Presidency of Yugoslavia , Secretary General... (41.3%), Dražen Budiša (27.8%), Mate Granić Mate Granic Mate Granić is a Croatian diplomat and politician who was part of the Croatian Government in much of the 1990s.Granić was born in Baška Voda in Dalmatia... (22.6%) |
60.88% | Stjepan Mesić |
| 2005 Croatian presidential election, 2005 The fourth presidential elections in Croatia took place in two rounds in January 2005.-Background:The State Elections Committee published a list of candidates on 15 December 2004. President Stjepan Mesić stood for re-election, and the governing HDZ nominated cabinet minister Jadranka Kosor... |
13 | 50.57% | Stjepan Mesić (48.9%), Jadranka Kosor Jadranka Kosor Jadranka Kosor is a Croatian politician and former journalist. She is the current Prime Minister of Croatia, having taken office on July 6, 2009, following the sudden resignation of her predecessor Ivo Sanader. She is Croatia's first female Prime Minister since independence.-Early life:Jadranka... (20.3%), Boris Mikšić Boris Mikšic Boris Mikšić is a Croatian businessman and politician.Mikšić was born in Zagreb, then part of SFR Yugoslavia. He graduated from the University of Zagreb Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture in 1973... (17.8%) |
51.04% | Stjepan Mesić |
| 2009-2010 | 12 | 43.96% | Ivo Josipović Ivo Josipović Ivo Josipović is a Croatian politician who has been President of Croatia since 2010. Josipović entered politics as a member of the League of Communists of Croatia , and played a key role in the democratic transformation of this party as the author of the first statute of the SDP that replaced the... (32.4%), Milan Bandić Milan Bandic Milan Bandić is an influential Croatian politician currently serving his fourth term as mayor of Croatia's capital, Zagreb. Between 2000 and 2009, he was a prominent member of the Social Democratic Party of Croatia . In 2007, he unsuccessfully ran for party president. However, he remained one of... (14.8%), Andrija Hebrang Andrija Hebrang (son) Andrija Hebrang is a Croatian physician and politician. A member of the Croatian Democratic Union , he is currently member of the Croatian Parliament... (12.04%), Nadan Vidošević Nadan Vidošević Nadan Vidošević is a Croatian politician, businessman and entrepreneur. He was a long-time member of the Croatian Democratic Union, before he launched an independent and ultimately unsuccessful candidacy in the 2009-2010 Croatian presidential election.-Overview:Vidošević graduated from Faculty of... (11.33%) |
50.13% | Ivo Josipović |
| Source: State Election Commission | |||||
Immunity and impeachment
The President of Croatia enjoys immunityParliamentary immunity
Parliamentary immunity, also known as legislative immunity, is a system in which members of the parliament or legislature are granted partial immunity from prosecution. Before prosecuting, it is necessary that the immunity be removed, usually by a superior court of justice or by the parliament itself...
—the president may not be arrested nor can any criminal proceedings may be instituted against the president without prior consent of the Constitutional Court. The immunity does not apply only if the president has been caught in the act of committing a criminal offense which carries a penalty of imprisonment of more than five years. In such a case the state body which has detained the president must notify the President of the Constitutional Court immediately.
The President of Croatia is impeachable
Impeachment
Impeachment is a formal process in which an official is accused of unlawful activity, the outcome of which, depending on the country, may include the removal of that official from office as well as other punishment....
for any violation of the Constitution committed in performance of duties. Impeachment proceedings may be initiated by the Parliament of Croatia by a two-thirds majority vote of all members of the parliament. The impeachment of the president is then decided by the Constitutional Court by a two-thirds majority vote of all its judges. If the Constitutional Court impeaches the president, the president's term is terminated.
Temporary incapacitation and termination of term
In case of brief incapacitation to execute the office of the President of Croatia due to absence, illness or vacations, the president may transfer powers to the Speaker of the Parliament of Croatia to act as a deputy. The president decides on revocation of the authority and return to the office. If the president is prevented from performing his duties for a longer period of time due to illness or other form of incapacitation, and especially if the president is unable to decide on a transfer of the powers to a deputy, the Speaker of the parliament becomes an acting president, assuming the presidential duty pursuant to a decision of the Constitutional Court, made upon request of the Government.In case of death or resignation submitted to the President of the Constitutional Court and communicated to the Speaker of the parliament, or in cases when the Constitutional Court decides to terminate of the presidential term through impeachment, the Speaker of the parliament becomes acting president. In those circumstances, new legislation is countersigned by the Prime Minister instead of the president and a new presidential election must be held within 60 days. This situation occurred after the death of Franjo Tuđman on 10 December 1999, when Vlatko Pavletić
Vlatko Pavletic
Vlatko Pavletić was a Croatian politician, university professor, literature critic and essayist.Pavletić was born in Zagreb in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. In 1955, he graduated from the Faculty of Philosophy in Zagreb, where he majored in Croatian language and literature...
became the acting president. After the parliamentary elections of 2000
Croatian parliamentary election, 2000
Elections for the Chamber of Representatives of the Croatian Parliament were held on January 3, 2000. These were the first elections to be held after the expiration of a full term of the previous Chamber....
, the role was transferred to Zlatko Tomčić
Zlatko Tomcic
Zlatko Tomčić is a Croatian politician, former leader of the Croatian Peasant Party and a representative in the Croatian Parliament.-Political background:...
, who filled the office until Stjepan Mesić
Stjepan Mesić
Stjepan "Stipe" Mesić is a Croatian politician and former President of Croatia. Before his ten-year presidential term between 2000 and 2010 he held the posts of Speaker of the Croatian Parliament , Prime Minister of Croatia , the last President of the Presidency of Yugoslavia , Secretary General...
was elected President of Croatia in 2000
Croatian presidential election, 2000
Presidential elections were held in Croatia on 24 January 2000. As no candidate passed the 50% threshold, a secound round was held on 7 February, the first time a second round had been required in the country's history. The result was a victory for Stjepan Mesić of the Croatian People's Party, who...
.
| Speakers of the parliament as acting presidents of Croatia | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Assumed office | Left office | Notes | Party | |
| Vlatko Pavletić Vlatko Pavletic Vlatko Pavletić was a Croatian politician, university professor, literature critic and essayist.Pavletić was born in Zagreb in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. In 1955, he graduated from the Faculty of Philosophy in Zagreb, where he majored in Croatian language and literature... |
10 December 1999 | 2 February 2000 | Office expired when the 3rd Sabor was replaced by the 4th | HDZ 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... |
|
| Zlatko Tomčić Zlatko Tomcic Zlatko Tomčić is a Croatian politician, former leader of the Croatian Peasant Party and a representative in the Croatian Parliament.-Political background:... |
2 February 2000 | 18 February 2000 | Replaced Pavletić after the 4th Sabor convened | HSS 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... |
|
Symbols
Legislation defines appearance and use of the Presidential Standard of Croatia as a symbol of the President of Croatia, and appearance and use of the presidential sashPresidential sash
A presidential sash is a cloth sash worn by presidents of many nations in the world. Such sashes are worn by presidents in Africa, Asia, Europe, and most notably, in Latin America....
as a symbol of honour of the office of the president. The presidential standard is square, blue field with a thin border of alternating red and white squares—29 on each side. In the centre of the blue field there is the main shield of the coat of arms of Croatia
Coat of arms of Croatia
The coat of arms of Croatia consists of one main shield and five smaller shields which form a crown over the main shield. The main coat of arms is a checkerboard that consists of 13 red and 12 silver fields. It's commonly known as šahovnica or grb...
with historical arms of Croatia surrounding the main shield. From left to right those are the oldest known coat of arms of Croatia and arms of Republic of Dubrovnik, Dalmatia
Dalmatia
Dalmatia is a historical region on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. It stretches from the island of Rab in the northwest to the Bay of Kotor in the southeast. The hinterland, the Dalmatian Zagora, ranges from fifty kilometers in width in the north to just a few kilometers in the south....
, Istria
Istria
Istria , formerly Histria , is the largest peninsula in the Adriatic Sea. The peninsula is located at the head of the Adriatic between the Gulf of Trieste and the Bay of Kvarner...
and Slavonia
Slavonia
Slavonia is a geographical and historical region in eastern Croatia...
, adorned with bands of gold, red and white stripes extending down vertically. Atop the shield there is a Croatian tricolour
Flag of Croatia
The flag of Croatia is one of the state symbols of Croatia. It consists of three equal size, horizontal stripes in colours red, white and blue. The flag combines the colours of the flags of the Kingdom of Croatia , the Kingdom of Slavonia and the Kingdom of Dalmatia...
ribbon with golden letters RH standing for the Republic of Croatia, executed in Roman square capitals
Roman square capitals
Roman square capitals, also called capitalis monumentalis, inscriptional capitals, elegant capitals and quadrata, are an ancient Roman form of writing, and the basis for modern capital letters....
. The presidential standard is flown on buildings of the Office of the President of Croatia, residence of the president and transportation vehicles when in use by the president, and in other ceremonial occasions. The presidential standard was designed by Miroslav Šutej
Miroslav Šutej
Miroslav Šutej was a Croatian avant-garde painter and graphic artist.Šutej was born in Duga Resa in 1936. He studied painting at the Academy of Fine Arts Zagreb and was an associate in Krsto Hegedušić's master's workshop...
in 1990.
The presidential sash is Croatian tricolour band trimmed with gold and adorned with the coat of arms of Croatia placed in the white field of the tricolour at the front. The arms are bordered by oak branches on its left and olive branches on its right. The sash is worn diagonally, over the right shoulder and is fastened using a square clasp trimmed with golden Croatian interlace and adorned with the arms used on the presidential standard, although without the ribbon used in the arms. The constitution specifies that the sash is worn on the Statehood Day
Statehood Day (Croatia)
Statehood Day is a holiday that occurs every year on June 25 in Croatia to celebrate the country's 1991 declaration of independence from Yugoslavia. The Statehood Day is an official holiday, a day off work in Croatia....
, during awards ceremonies, during acceptance of letters of credence
Letter of Credence
A letter of credence is a formal letter usually sent by one head of state to another that formally grants diplomatic accreditation to a named individual to be their ambassador in the country of the head of state receiving the letter...
and in other ceremonial occasions. The presidential sash was not in use since 2000 inauguration of Stjepan Mesić.
History
The Socialist Republic of CroatiaSocialist 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...
within SFR Yugoslavia was led by a group of communist party functionaries who formed a collective Presidency with the president of the Presidency at its head. The first democratic elections of 1990
Croatian parliamentary election, 1990
Parliamentary elections were held in Croatia on 22 April 1990, with a second round of voting on 6 May. The first free elections since multi-party politics were introduced, they resulted in a victory for the Croatian Democratic Union, which won 55 of the 80 seats...
did not elect members of the Presidency directly. Rather, the parliament was tasked with filling these positions as it had done in the socialist period. 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...
won the elections and its leader Franjo Tuđman assumed the presidency of the Presidency on May 30, 1990. On July 25, the parliament passed several constitutional amendments, including amendment LXXI which created the position of President and of Vice-Presidents. The Christmas Constitution
Constitution of Croatia
The current Constitution of the Republic of Croatia was adopted by the Parliament of the Republic of Croatia on December 22, 1990. It replaced the Constitution of 1974 ratified in socialist Yugoslavia...
passed on December 22, 1990 established the government as a semi-presidential system
Semi-presidential system
The semi-presidential system is a system of government in which a president and a prime minister are both active participants in the day-to-day administration of the state...
and called for presidential elections.
Tuđman won presidential elections in 1992
Croatian presidential election, 1992
Presidential elections were held in Croatia for the first time on 2 August 1992 alongside simultaneous parliamentary elections. The result was a victory for Franjo Tuđman of the Croatian Democratic Union , who received 57.8% of the vote...
and 1997
Croatian presidential election, 1997
Presidential elections were held in Croatia on 15 June 1997. The result was a victory for Franjo Tuđman of the Croatian Democratic Union , who received 61.4% of the vote. Voter turnout was 54.6%.-Results:...
. During his reign, Constitution of Croatia
Constitution of Croatia
The current Constitution of the Republic of Croatia was adopted by the Parliament of the Republic of Croatia on December 22, 1990. It replaced the Constitution of 1974 ratified in socialist Yugoslavia...
adopted in 1990 provided for a semi-presidential system. After his death in 1999, the constitution was amended and much of the presidential powers were transferred to the parliament and the government
Parliamentary system
A parliamentary system is a system of government in which the ministers of the executive branch get their democratic legitimacy from the legislature and are accountable to that body, such that the executive and legislative branches are intertwined....
. Stjepan Mesić
Stjepan Mesić
Stjepan "Stipe" Mesić is a Croatian politician and former President of Croatia. Before his ten-year presidential term between 2000 and 2010 he held the posts of Speaker of the Croatian Parliament , Prime Minister of Croatia , the last President of the Presidency of Yugoslavia , Secretary General...
won two consecutive terms, in 2000
Croatian presidential election, 2000
Presidential elections were held in Croatia on 24 January 2000. As no candidate passed the 50% threshold, a secound round was held on 7 February, the first time a second round had been required in the country's history. The result was a victory for Stjepan Mesić of the Croatian People's Party, who...
on Croatian People's Party (HNS) ticket and in 2005
Croatian presidential election, 2005
The fourth presidential elections in Croatia took place in two rounds in January 2005.-Background:The State Elections Committee published a list of candidates on 15 December 2004. President Stjepan Mesić stood for re-election, and the governing HDZ nominated cabinet minister Jadranka Kosor...
, the maximum permitted by the constitution. Ivo Josipović
Ivo Josipović
Ivo Josipović is a Croatian politician who has been President of Croatia since 2010. Josipović entered politics as a member of the League of Communists of Croatia , and played a key role in the democratic transformation of this party as the author of the first statute of the SDP that replaced the...
, an SDP candidate, won the presidential elections held in December 2009 and January 2010.
See also
- Politics of CroatiaPolitics of CroatiaThe politics of Croatia are defined by a parliamentary representative democratic republic framework, where the Prime Minister of Croatia is the head of government, in a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government and the President of Croatia. Legislative power is vested in...
- List of Presidents of Croatia
- Office of the President of CroatiaOffice of the President of CroatiaThe Office of the President of the Republic consists of the support staff of the President of Croatia, as well as various advisors to the president. As of 2008, the office employed 170 people. The Office of the President was created by a presidential decree by Franjo Tuđman in January 1991. The...
- Prime Minister of Croatia