Zoran Milanović

Zoran Milanović. He is a Croatian politician serving as the fifth President of Croatia since February 2020, having previously served as the Prime Minister of Croatia from 2011 to 2016. A long-time member of the Social Democratic Party, he led the party from 2007 to 2016 and served as the Leader of the Opposition in the Croatian Parliament. His political career has been defined by his tenure during Croatia's accession to the European Union and his subsequent shift to a more populist and nationalist rhetoric as president, often clashing with the ruling Croatian Democratic Union government.

Early life and education

He was born on 30 October 1966 in Zagreb, then part of the Socialist Republic of Croatia within the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. His father, Stipe, was a judge at the Supreme Court of Croatia, and his mother, Gina, was a homemaker. He completed his secondary education at the prestigious XVI Gymnasium in Zagreb. He subsequently enrolled at the University of Zagreb Faculty of Law, graduating with a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1991. During his studies, he briefly served in the Yugoslav People's Army before the outbreak of the Croatian War of Independence.

Political career

After working briefly at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he joined the Social Democratic Party in 1999. He quickly rose through the ranks, serving as an advisor on European Union integration and later as the party's international secretary. Following the party's defeat in the 2005 Croatian parliamentary election, he was elected as the leader of the Social Democratic Party in June 2007, succeeding acting leader Željka Antunović. Under his leadership, the party formed the Kukuriku coalition with the Croatian People's Party – Liberal Democrats, the Istrian Democratic Assembly, and the Croatian Party of Pensioners. This coalition won a plurality in the 2011 Croatian parliamentary election, leading to his appointment as Prime Minister of Croatia.

Presidency

After leaving the premiership following the 2016 Croatian parliamentary election, he announced his candidacy in the 2019–20 Croatian presidential election. Running as an independent with the support of the Social Democratic Party, he defeated incumbent Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović in a runoff, taking office on 19 February 2020. His presidency has been marked by frequent and intense conflicts with the government of Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and the Croatian Democratic Union, particularly over foreign policy, judicial appointments, and the response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Croatia. He has adopted a strongly critical stance towards the European Union on issues like Russian aggression in Ukraine and the European migrant crisis, while also engaging in diplomatic disputes with neighboring Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Political positions and public image

Initially a pro-European centrist, his political stance has evolved significantly since becoming president, embracing a more populist and national-conservative rhetoric. He is a vocal critic of NATO expansion in the Balkans, particularly regarding Montenegro's accession, and has expressed skepticism towards further EU enlargement into the region. His comments on the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and figures like Slobodan Milošević have drawn international criticism. Domestically, he is a polarizing figure, praised by supporters for his direct style and defense of Croatian national identity, but criticized by opponents for undermining institutional norms and the Constitution of Croatia.

Personal life

He is married to Sanja Musić Milanović, a former journalist for Croatian Radiotelevision and a communications advisor. The couple has two sons and resides in Zagreb. He is known for his interest in history and is a fan of the NK Dinamo Zagreb football club. Fluent in English and French, he also has a working knowledge of German. His younger brother, Mladen Milanović, is a diplomat who has served as Croatia's ambassador to Russia.

Category:Presidents of Croatia Category:Prime Ministers of Croatia Category:1966 births Category:Living people