Andrej Plenković

Andrej Plenković is a Croatian politician and diplomat who has served as the Prime Minister of Croatia since October 2016. A member and president of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), he previously served as a Member of the European Parliament from 2013 until his assumption of the premiership. His tenure has focused on European integration, economic stability, and navigating the nation's role within the European Union and NATO.

Early life and education

Andrej Plenković was born on 8 April 1970 in Zagreb, then part of the Socialist Republic of Croatia within the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. He completed his secondary education at the XII. Gymnasium in Zagreb. He graduated with a degree in law from the University of Zagreb Faculty of Law in 1993. Subsequently, he pursued postgraduate studies in European Union law and international relations, earning a master's degree from the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna in Austria. His early professional career was in diplomacy, serving in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where he worked on Croatia's accession to the Council of Europe and the European Union.

Political career

Plenković entered politics as an independent expert before formally joining the Croatian Democratic Union in 2011. He was appointed as the head of the Croatian government's negotiation team for accession to the European Union, playing a key role in the final stages of the process that concluded with Croatia's membership in 2013. In the 2014 European Parliament election, he was elected as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP). During his term in the European Parliament, he served as a Vice-Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and was a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. In 2016, following internal party changes, he was elected president of the HDZ, succeeding Tomislav Karamarko.

Prime Minister of Croatia

After the 2016 Croatian parliamentary election, Plenković formed a coalition government with the Bridge of Independent Lists (Most) and was sworn in as Prime Minister on 19 October 2016, succeeding Tihomir Orešković. His first government collapsed in mid-2017, but he quickly formed a new coalition with representatives from the Croatian People's Party and independent ministers. He led the HDZ to victory in the 2020 Croatian parliamentary election, forming a government with the support of the Independent Democratic Serb Party and other minority representatives. Key events during his premiership include Croatia's presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2020, the country's accession to the Eurozone and the Schengen Area in 2023, and managing the response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Croatia.

Political positions and views

Plenković is described as a moderate, pro-European conservative within the European People's Party family. His government has emphasized fiscal responsibility, economic growth, and strengthening the rule of law, often in dialogue with the European Commission. He advocates for a strong transatlantic alliance, supporting Croatia's role in NATO and fostering relations with the United States. On foreign policy, he has maintained a position supporting the sovereignty of Ukraine following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, while also engaging with regional initiatives in the Western Balkans. Domestically, his tenure has seen debates over reforms to the judiciary and the Croatian healthcare system.

Personal life

Andrej Plenković is married to Ana Maslać Plenković, a lawyer. The couple has two children. He is fluent in English, French, and Italian, in addition to his native Croatian. An avid fan of Dinamo Zagreb, he is known to attend football matches. He has received several national and international awards for his public service, including the Order of Duke Branimir and the European People's Party's Robert Schuman Medal.

Category:1970 births Category:Living people Category:Prime Ministers of Croatia Category:Croatian Democratic Union politicians Category:Members of the European Parliament for Croatia Category:University of Zagreb alumni Category:People from Zagreb