A New President in Croatia: No Internal Changes, Tougher Relations with Serbia
A New President in Croatia: No Internal Changes, Tougher Relations with Serbia

Author(s): Tomasz Żornaczuk
Subject(s): Governance, Government/Political systems, International relations/trade
Published by: PISM Polski Instytut Spraw Międzynarodowych
Keywords: Croatia; presidential elections; President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović; Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ); foreign policy; Croatian-Serbian relations; Croatian neighbourhood policy;
Summary/Abstract: On 15 February, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, from the right-wing Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), will replace social democrat Ivo Josipović, who has been in office for five years, as president of Croatia. The expectations of society relate primarily to an improvement in Croatia’s economic situation, but due to limited powers, the change of president will not cause any fundamental shifts. However, it can be expected that there will be implications for policy concerning neighbouring states, especially Serbia. The change in president is also a sign that the people of Croatia will broadly support the opposition in the parliamentary elections scheduled for later this year.

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