Stjepan Mesić facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Stjepan Mesić
Mesić in 2012
President of Croatia
In office 19 February 2000 – 18 February 2010
Prime Minister	Ivica Račan Ivo Sanader Jadranka Kosor
Preceded by	Franjo Tuđman Zlatko Tomčić (acting)
Succeeded by	Ivo Josipović
Speaker of the Croatian Parliament
In office 7 September 1992 – 24 May 1994
President	Franjo Tuđman
Preceded by	Žarko Domljan
Succeeded by	Nedjeljko Mihanović
President of the Presidency of Yugoslavia
In office 30 June 1991 – 6 December 1991
Prime Minister	Ante Marković
Deputy	Branko Kostić
Preceded by	Borisav Jović Sejdo Bajramović (Acting)
Succeeded by	Position abolisheda
Vice-President of the Presidency of Yugoslavia
In office 24 August 1990 – 15 May 1991
President	Borisav Jović
Prime Minister	Ante Marković
Preceded by	Stipe Šuvar
Succeeded by	Branko Kostić
Member of the Presidency of Yugoslavia for the Republic of Croatia
In office 24 August 1990 – 6 December 1991
President	Borisav Jović Sejdo Bajramović Himself
Preceded by	Stipe Šuvar
Succeeded by	Position abolished
Prime Minister of Croatia
In office 30 May 1990 – 24 August 1990
President	Franjo Tuđman
Preceded by	Antun Milović
Succeeded by	Josip Manolić
Secretary of the Non-Aligned Movement
In office 30 June 1991 – 6 December 1991
Preceded by	Borisav Jović
Succeeded by	Branko Kostić
Personal details
Born	(1934-12-24) 24 December 1934 (age 90) Orahovica, Yugoslavia (now Croatia)
Political party	Independent (2000–present)
Other political affiliations	SKH (1955–1990) HDZ (1990–1994) HND (1994–1997) HNS (1997–2000)
Spouse	Milka Dudunić ​ ​ (m. 1961; died 2024)​
Children	2
Alma mater	University of Zagreb
Profession	Lawyer
Signature
a Branko Kostić assumed the powers and duties of the office as acting president upon Mesić's resignation

Stjepan "Stipe" Mesić (born December 24, 1934) is a Croatian lawyer and politician. He served as the president of Croatia for two terms, from 2000 to 2010. Before becoming president, he held many important roles. He was the prime minister of Croatia in 1990. He was also the last president of the Presidency of Yugoslavia in 1991. Later, he became the speaker of the Croatian Parliament from 1992 to 1994.

Mesić was a member of the Croatian Parliament in the 1960s. He then took a break from politics until 1990. At that time, he joined the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) party. He became the Prime Minister of Croatia after the first multi-party elections. His government is seen as the first official government of modern Croatia. He later became a member of the Yugoslav federal presidency. He served as its vice-president and then as the last President of Yugoslavia before it broke apart.

After Yugoslavia broke up and Croatia became independent, Mesić continued his political career. He was the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament from 1992 to 1994. He then left the HDZ party and helped start a new party. Later, he joined the Croatian People's Party.

In 2000, Mesić won the election to become the President of Croatia. He was re-elected in 2005 for a second five-year term. During his time as president, he was often seen as the most popular politician in Croatia.

Early Life and Education

Stjepan Mesić, also known as "Stipe," was born on December 24, 1934. His birthplace was Orahovica, which was then part of Yugoslavia (now Croatia). His parents were Josip and Magdalena Mesić. After his mother passed away, his father remarried.

During World War II, his family often sought safety in different places. After the war, they settled in Našice and then Osijek. Stipe finished elementary school and part of high school in Osijek.

In 1949, his family moved back to Orahovica. Stipe finished high school in Požega in 1955. He was a very good student.

He went on to study law at the University of Zagreb. He graduated in 1961. That same year, he married Milka Dudunić. They had two daughters together. After law school, he worked in courts in Orahovica and Našice. He also completed his required military service.

Political Career Highlights

In 1966, Mesić was elected to his local council as an independent candidate. The next year, in 1967, he became the mayor of Orahovica. He also became a member of the Croatian Parliament.

As mayor, Mesić tried to build a private factory in Orahovica. This was a new idea in Yugoslavia at the time. However, the Yugoslav president, Josip Broz Tito, did not approve of it.

Croatian Spring Movement

In the 1970s, Mesić supported the "Croatian Spring" movement. This movement wanted more equality for Croatia within Yugoslavia. They wanted Croatia to have more control over its economy, politics, and culture.

Because of his support, Mesić was accused of "enemy propaganda." He was sentenced to jail for one year in 1975. He served his time in the Stara Gradiška prison.

Return to Politics and Yugoslav Presidency

Mesić was elected to the Croatian Parliament again in 1990. He was a candidate for the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ). This was during the first multi-party elections in Croatia after World War II. He became the general secretary of HDZ.

From May to August 1990, he served as the Prime Minister of Croatia. He then resigned to become the vice-president of Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY).

The presidency of Yugoslavia rotated among its six republics each year. In 1991, it was Mesić's turn to become president. However, the Serbian member of the presidency tried to stop him. After international pressure, Mesić was appointed president on July 1, 1991. He became the last President of Yugoslavia before it broke apart.

As Yugoslav President, Mesić was also the Secretary General of the Non-Aligned Movement. In October 1991, he helped lead a group of boats to bring aid to Dubrovnik during a siege.

Mesić felt that his role as head of Yugoslavia was no longer important. Many of his orders were ignored. On December 5, 1991, he resigned from the Presidency and returned to Croatia. He famously said, "I think I've accomplished my duty, Yugoslavia no longer exist[s] anymore."

Speaker of Parliament and New Parties

After the 1992 Croatian parliamentary election, Mesić became the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament. He held this position from September 7, 1992, to May 24, 1994.

In April 1994, Mesić left the HDZ party. He disagreed with Croatia's policy in Bosnia and Herzegovina at that time. He then formed a new party called the Croatian Independent Democrats (HND).

Mesić also spoke out against unfair privatization policies after the war. In 1997, he and many HND members joined the Croatian People's Party (HNS).

Presidency of Croatia

Mesić during a May 2006 meeting with then-US Vice President Dick Cheney in Dubrovnik

Mesić with Mikhail Gorbachev in Primošten

Mesić with Michelle and Barack Obama in New York City in September 2009.

Mesić with President of Russia Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on 16 April 2002.

Mesić was elected President of the Republic of Croatia in 2000. He won the election against Dražen Budiša. He ran as a candidate supported by several political parties. After becoming president, he left his membership in the HNS party.

As president, he often criticized the policies of the previous president, Franjo Tuđman. Mesić believed in a more open economy and a free media. In September 2000, Mesić removed seven active Croatian generals from duty. They had written public letters criticizing the government. Mesić believed that active military officers should not write political letters without permission.

President Mesić and First Lady Milka Mesić with Polish President Lech Kaczynski and his wife Maria Kaczyńska at the Presidential Palace in Zagreb in 2008.

Mesić was very active in foreign policy. He worked to help Croatia become a member of the European Union and NATO. He also worked to improve relations with neighboring countries. For example, he exchanged apologies with the President of Serbia and Montenegro for any past wrongdoings during the war.

Mesić shared information with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. This information was about the Croatian army's involvement in the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Some people in Croatia did not like this. However, Mesić later clearly stated that the persecution of Serbs in the Independent State of Croatia was a genocide. In 2017, he apologized for any past statements that might have downplayed the crimes at the Jasenovac concentration camp.

He did not support the United States' military action against Iraq in 2003. He believed that the United Nations should have approved it first. Mesić also improved Croatia's relationship with Libya by visiting its leader, Muammar al-Gaddafi.

Mesić served his first five-year term until February 2005. In the 2005 election, he was re-elected for a second term. He won against Jadranka Kosor. He served his second term until 2010, when Ivo Josipović became the new president.

In 2006, the capital of Montenegro, Podgorica, made Mesić an honorary citizen. In 2008, President Mesić spoke about the policies of Milorad Dodik. He compared them to the policies of former Serbian President Slobodan Milošević from the early 1990s. Mesić warned about the dangers of such policies for the region.

In 2009, Mesić suggested that all crucifixes be removed from Croatian state offices. This caused some discussion with the Catholic Church in Croatia.

Political Activities After Presidency

After his presidency ended, Stjepan Mesić continued to be involved in politics. In 2019, he helped create the "Podgorica Club" in Montenegro. This group brings together former presidents and prime ministers from the region.

He also took part in the first conference of the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace in Kosovo in 2017.

Awards

International

Award or decoration		Country	Date
	Grand Cross with Chain of the Order of the Star of Romania	Romania	June 2000
	Grand Star of the Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria	Austria	2001
	Knight Grand Cross with Grand Cordon of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic	Italy	5 October 2001
	Grand Cross of 1st class of the Order of the White Double Cross	Slovakia	2001
	Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Michael and St. George	United Kingdom	December 2001
	Grand Cross of 1st class of the Order of Friendship	Kazakhstan	15 April 2002
	Grand Cross with Chain of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary	Hungary	2002
	Honorary Recipient of the Order of the Crown of the Realm	Malaysia	2002
	Honorary Companion of Honour of the National Order of Merit	Malta	26 October 2006
	First Class of the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise	Ukraine	24 May 2007
	Medal of Pushkin	Russia	31 October 2007
	Commander Grand Cross with Chain of the Order of the Three Stars	Latvia	2008
	Order of the Republic	Moldova	23 December 2008
	Grand Cross of the Order of Saint-Charles	Monaco	16 April 2009
	Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the White Rose of Finland	Finland	2011
	National Flag Order	Albania	2018
	Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Knights of Rizal	Philippines	17 February 2024

Croatian

Award or decoration		Country	Date
	Grand Order of King Tomislav	Croatia	11 July 2005

Honors

Honor		Country	Date
	Honorary Citizen of Podgorica	Montenegro	2007
	Honorary Citizen of Trogir	Croatia	2009
	Honorary Citizen of Istria	Croatia	2009
	Honorary Citizen of Bihać	Bosnia and Herzegovina	2009
	Honorary Citizen of Pristina	Kosovo	2009
	Honorary Citizen of Opatija	Croatia	2010
	Honorary Citizen of Tetovo	Macedonia	2012
	Honorary Citizen of Shengjin	Albania	2013
	Honorary Citizen of Tirana	Albania	2013

See also

In Spanish: Stjepan Mesić para niños

• Cabinet of Stjepan Mesić