Ivo Sanader

Ivo Sanader (born June 8, 1953 in Split, Croatia) is the current Prime Minister of Croatia (President of the Government).

Related Topics:
June 8 - 1953 - Split - Croatia - Prime Minister - Government

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After the victory of his Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) in the 2003 parliamentary elections the President of the Republic named Sanader the Prime Minister designate on December 9, 2003. When Croatian Parliament subsequently gave its consent by 88 votes (out of 152) on December 23, 2003 Sanader was formally appointed. His predecessor as Prime Minister was Ivica Ra?an of the Social Democratic Party.

Related Topics:
Croatian Democratic Union - HDZ - December 9 - 2003 - Croatian Parliament - December 23 - Ivica Ra?an

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Sanader's political career was launched after he surprisingly took charge of the HDZ in 2000. The party was in a delicate situation following the death of its founder Franjo Tu?man and the loss of the 2000 parliamentary and presidential elections. Previously Sanader had played a low-key role as Minister of Science and Technology (1992-1993) and later as Deputy Foreign Minister (1996-2000; when Mate Grani? was the minister).

Related Topics:
HDZ - 2000 - Franjo Tu?man - Mate Grani?

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Sanader's government successfully implemented the criteria stipulated in the Association Agreement signed with the European Union in 2001. As a result Croatia became an official candidate for the entry into the EU. Sanader's HDZ has also sought to establish better relations with minority parties and has continued to promote minority rights. Amongst other factors contributing to the positive opinion of the European Commission and the European Council regarding Croatia's bid to become an EU member were Croatia's cooperation with the ICTY, continued economic growth and country's compliance with political and economic criteria established by the 1993 Copenhagen European Council. Croatia is expected to complete negotiations with the EU during Mr Sanader's government's term of office.

Related Topics:
European Union - 2001 - Croatia - EU - HDZ - European Commission - European Council - ICTY

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Sanader has close relations with other moderate conservative politicians in Europe, including Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel, Bavarian Prime Minister Edmund Stoiber and German Christian Democratic Union leader Angela Merkel.

Related Topics:
Austria - Chancellor - Wolfgang Schüssel - Bavaria - Prime Minister - Edmund Stoiber - German - Christian Democratic Union - Angela Merkel

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Sanader was the last statesman to visit Pope John Paul II in the Vatican, in February 2005, a few weeks before his death.

Related Topics:
Statesman - Pope - John Paul II - Vatican - February - 2005

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Sanader has a PhD in Romance languages and comparative literature from Innsbruck University in Austria. Besides his native Croatian he is fluent in German, English, French and Italian. He is married and has two children.

Related Topics:
Romance languages - Comparative literature - Austria

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