Željka Antunovic
Encyclopedia
Željka Antunović (born September 15, 1955) is a Croatia
n centre-left
politician and the deputy president of the Social Democratic Party
(SDP), the largest opposition party in Croatia.
Antunović was born in Virovitica
, Croatia
, then SFR Yugoslavia. She entered the political scene in 1990 when she joined the Social Democrats of Croatia (SDH), a centre-left party - formed after establishment of democracy across Yugoslavia - and originally a major rival of the SDP, who had in turn recently succeeded the League of Communists of Croatia
. However, following disastrous results of the SDH in parliamentary elections, the party accepted the SDP's offer of unification, which occurred in 1994. Antunović, together with Antun Vujić
, gradually rose through the ranks of SDP.
Antunović has served as a member of Croatian Parliament from 1995 to 1999, and from 2003 onwards. At the party conference in 2000, she was elected as a deputy president of SDP
. Between 2000 and 2003, she served as a deputy Prime Minister
in Ivica Račan
's government; and from 2002 to 2003, she served as Minister of Defense.
On January 31, 2007, Ivica Račan announced that he was temporarily leaving politics due to health reasons. Antunović then took over the chairmanship of the Party; and on April 11, following further deterioration in Račan's health, he resigned as leader of the party, leaving Antunović as head of the SDP until the next party convention.
Antunović ran for president at the party convention on June 2, 2007, together with Milan Bandić
, Zoran Milanović
and Tonino Picula
. She was defeated by Milanović in the second round of voting.
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 centre-left
Centre-left
Centre-left is a political term that describes individuals, political parties or organisations such as think tanks whose ideology lies between the centre and the left on the left-right spectrum...
politician and the deputy president of the Social Democratic Party
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), the largest opposition party in Croatia.
Antunović was born in Virovitica
Virovitica
Virovitica is a Croatian town near the Croatian-Hungarian border. It is situated near the Drava river and belongs to the historic region of Slavonia. Virovitica has a population of 14,663, with 21,327 people in the municipality...
, 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 ...
, then SFR Yugoslavia. She entered the political scene in 1990 when she joined the Social Democrats of Croatia (SDH), a centre-left party - formed after establishment of democracy across Yugoslavia - and originally a major rival of the SDP, who had in turn recently succeeded the League of Communists of Croatia
League of Communists of Croatia
League of Communists of Croatia was the Croatian branch of the League of Communists of Yugoslavia . Until 1952, it was known as Communist Party of Croatia .- History :...
. However, following disastrous results of the SDH in parliamentary elections, the party accepted the SDP's offer of unification, which occurred in 1994. Antunović, together with Antun Vujić
Antun Vujic
Antun Vujić is a Croatian politician, philosopher, political analyst and lexicographer, currently member of Croatian Parliament and formerly Minister of Culture in the Croatian Government .-Overview:Vujić graduated from the University of Zagreb's Faculty of Philosophy Antun Vujić (born in...
, gradually rose through the ranks of SDP.
Antunović has served as a member of Croatian Parliament from 1995 to 1999, and from 2003 onwards. At the party conference in 2000, she was elected as a deputy president of SDP
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...
. Between 2000 and 2003, she served as a deputy Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
in 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...
's government; and from 2002 to 2003, she served as Minister of Defense.
On January 31, 2007, Ivica Račan announced that he was temporarily leaving politics due to health reasons. Antunović then took over the chairmanship of the Party; and on April 11, following further deterioration in Račan's health, he resigned as leader of the party, leaving Antunović as head of the SDP until the next party convention.
Antunović ran for president at the party convention on June 2, 2007, together with 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...
, 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 Tonino Picula
Tonino Picula
Tonino Picula is a Croatian politician of the left-oriented Social Democratic Party of Croatia . He served as a Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2000 to 2003.-Early life:...
. She was defeated by Milanović in the second round of voting.
External links
- Željka Antunović at the Social Democratic Party of CroatiaSocial Democratic Party of CroatiaSocial Democratic Party of Croatia , commonly referred to in Croatia as simply Social Democratic Party , is the largest centre-left political party in Croatia...
official website - Željka Antunović at the Croatian Parliament website
- Željka Antunović at the Council of EuropeCouncil of EuropeThe Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
website