Jadranka Kosor

Jadranka Kosor was elected as Croatia's first woman prime minister since independence on July 6, 2009, after Ivo Sanader's sudden resignation from the post, and served until December 23, 2011. Kosor also replaced Sanader as the head of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), serving from July 4, 2009 to May 21, 2012.

Born on July 1, 1953, in Pakrac, Croatia, Kosor completed her secondary education in the town of Lipik. She graduated with a law degree from the Faculty of Law in Zagreb, where she became a print and radio journalist in 1972.

During the 1991-1995 Croatian conflict, Kosor worked with Croatian Radio, hosting a radio show for refugees. She entered politics in 1995, when she was elected as an MP and vice-president of the House of Representatives, following late President Franjo Tudjman's invitation for her to join Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ). From 1998 to 2002, Kosor headed the Conservative Party's women's association, Katarina Zrinski.

At the HDZ's general convention in 2002, Kosor was elected deputy president of the party under Prime Minister Sanader. After HDZ won the November 2003 general elections, Kosor was appointed deputy prime minister and the minister in charge of family and veterans' issues.

In 2005, she ran for Croatia's presidency but was defeated in the runoff election by the country's incumbent head of state, Stipe Mesic.

Kosor is the author of two books of poetry and two on topics related to the 1991-1995 war in Croatia.

Sources:

Council of Women World Leaders (n.d.). “JADRANKA KOSOR” Council of Women World Leaders. Retrieved December 5, 2022. https://www.councilwomenworldleaders.org/jadranka-kosor.html

Croatian Parliament (n.d.). “7th term of the Croatian Parliament (22 December 2011 - 28 December 2015)” Croatian Parliament. Retrieved December 5, 2022. https://www.sabor.hr/en/members-parliament/kosor-jadranka-7-term

Institute for Cultural Diplomacy Inc. (n.d.). “The Hon. Jadranka Kosor” Institute for Cultural Diplomacy Inc.. Retrieved December 5, 2022. https://www.culturaldiplomacy.org/index.php?jadranka-kosor