Tonino Picula
Encyclopedia
Tonino Picula is a Croatia
n politician of the left-oriented Social Democratic Party of Croatia
(SDP). He served as a Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2000 to 2003.
. He graduated sociology
at Zagreb
's University
. He is a long-time member of the SDP and was the party's Secretary of international relations from 1993 to 2000. He also led the SDP branch in Velika Gorica
from 1997 to 2000. He has been member of the Croatian Parliament for several mandates.
in which SDP, under Ivica Račan
, won in a broad coalision, he was appointed to be Foreign Minister
until the end of the governments mandate in 2003.
During his term in office, Croatia had several important foreign-relation successes, including becoming a candidate for NATO and the European Union
.
. After Ivica Račan died in mid-2007, Picula ran to succeed him as president, but lost during the first round of elections to Zoran Milanović
and Željka Antunović
.
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 of the left-oriented 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). He served as a Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2000 to 2003.
Early life
Picula completed both primary and secondary education at ŠibenikŠibenik
Šibenik is a historic town in Croatia, with population of 51,553 . It is located in central Dalmatia where the river Krka flows into the Adriatic Sea...
. He graduated sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
at 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...
's University
University of Zagreb
The University of Zagreb is the biggest Croatian university and the oldest continuously operating university in the area covering Central Europe south of Vienna and all of Southeastern Europe...
. He is a long-time member of the SDP and was the party's Secretary of international relations from 1993 to 2000. He also led the SDP branch in Velika Gorica
Velika Gorica
Velika Gorica is the largest and most populous city in Zagreb County, Croatia. The city itself has a population of 31,341, while the municipality has a population of 63,511 inhabitants .Velika Gorica is the centre of the historical Turopolje region....
from 1997 to 2000. He has been member of the Croatian Parliament for several mandates.
Minister of Foreign Affairs
After the year 2000 electionsCroatian 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....
in which SDP, under Ivica Račan
Ivica Racan
Ivica Račan was a Croatian career politician, leader of the League of Communists of Croatia and later Social Democratic Party from 1989 to 2007...
, won in a broad coalision, he was appointed to be Foreign Minister
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
until the end of the governments mandate in 2003.
During his term in office, Croatia had several important foreign-relation successes, including becoming a candidate for NATO and the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
.
Later biography
During local elections in 2005, he was elected mayor of Velika GoricaVelika Gorica
Velika Gorica is the largest and most populous city in Zagreb County, Croatia. The city itself has a population of 31,341, while the municipality has a population of 63,511 inhabitants .Velika Gorica is the centre of the historical Turopolje region....
. After Ivica Račan died in mid-2007, Picula ran to succeed him as president, but lost during the first round of elections to Zoran Milanović
Zoran Milanovic
Zoran Milanović is a Croatian politician, leader of the centre-left Social Democratic Party of Croatia , the main opposition party.- Early life :...
and Željka Antunović
Željka Antunovic
Željka Antunović is a Croatian centre-left politician and the deputy president of the Social Democratic Party , the largest opposition party in Croatia.Antunović was born in Virovitica, Croatia, then SFR Yugoslavia...
.