View source for Prime Minister of Croatia

{{short description|Head of government of Croatia}}
{{Infobox official post
| post = President of the Government
| body = the Republic of Croatia
| native_name = <small>Predsjednik Vlade Republike Hrvatske</small>
| insignia = Zastava predsjednika Vlade RH.svg{{!}}border
| insigniasize = 130px
| insigniacaption = [[Flag_of_Croatia#Naval_and_other_official_flags|Flag of the president of the Croatian government]]
| image = Andrej Plenković (2025-09-02).jpg
| incumbent = [[Andrej Plenković]]
| incumbentsince = 19 October 2016
| style = {{plainlist|
*[[Prime minister|Mr. Prime Minister]] or President of the Government<br />{{small|{{langx|hr|Gospodin predsjednik Vlade}} (formal)}}
*[[Excellency|His Excellency]]<br />{{small|{{langx|hr|Njegova ekscelencija}} (in international correspondence and abroad only)}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.un.int/protocol/documents/Hspmfm.pdf |title=HEADS OF GOVERNMENT |access-date=16 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927014351/http://www.un.int/protocol/documents/Hspmfm.pdf |archive-date=27 September 2012 }}, Protocol and Liaison Service, [[United Nations]].</ref>
}}
| type = [[Head of Government]]
| member_of = {{ubl|[[Government of Croatia]]<br />[[European Council]] (EU)|Also:<br />[[North Atlantic Council]] (NATO)}}
| reports_to = [[Croatian Parliament]]
| appointer = [[Croatian Parliament]]
| nominator = [[President of Croatia]]
| termlength = At the pleasure of the parliamentary majority. Parliamentary elections must be held no later than 60 days after the expiration of a full parliamentary term of 4 years, but an incumbent prime minister shall remain in office in a caretaker capacity until a new government is confirmed in Parliament and sworn in by its speaker.
| inaugural = [[Stjepan Mesić]] (after adoption of constitutional Amendment LXXIII)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/1990_07_31_610.html | title=Odluka o proglašenju Amandmana LXIV. Do LXXV. Na Ustav Socijalističke Republike Hrvatske }}</ref><br />[[Josip Manolić]] (under current [[Constitution of Croatia|Constitution]])
| constituting_instrument = [[Constitution of Croatia]]
| salary = [[Euro|€]]66 400 yearly <ref>{{Cite web|title=Prime Minister announces significant salary increases for state officials |url=https://n1info.hr/english/news/prime-minister-announces-significant-salary-increases-for-state-officials/| website= www.n1info.hr |date=July 25, 2024 |access-date=February 21, 2025}}</ref>
| formation = 25 July 1990 (by constitutional Amendment LXXIII)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/1990_07_31_610.html | title=Odluka o proglašenju Amandmana LXIV. Do LXXV. Na Ustav Socijalističke Republike Hrvatske }}</ref><br />22 December 1990 (under current [[Constitution of Croatia|Constitution]])
| seat = [[Banski Dvori]], Trg sv. Marka 2,<br />[[Zagreb]], Croatia
| deputy = [[Deputy Prime Minister of Croatia|Deputy Prime Minister]]<br />{{small|(position held by one or more members of the government)}}
| department = [[Government of Croatia]]<br>[[Government_of_Croatia#Offices_and_agencies|Office of the President of the Government]]
| website = {{url|https://vlada.gov.hr/}}
}}

{{Politics of Croatia}}
The '''prime minister of Croatia''', officially the '''president of the government of the Republic of Croatia''' ({{langx|hr|Predsjednik / Predsjednica Vlade Republike Hrvatske}}), is [[Croatia]]'s [[head of government]], and is ''de facto'' the most powerful and influential state officeholder in the Croatian system of government. Following the first-time establishment of the office in 1945, the 1990–2000 [[semi-presidential]] period is the only exception where the [[president of Croatia]] held ''de facto'' executive authority. In the formal Croatian order of precedence, however, the position of prime minister is the third highest state office, after the president of the Republic and the [[Speaker of the Croatian Parliament|speaker of the Parliament]].

The [[Constitution of Croatia]] prescribes that "Parliament supervises the Government" (Article 81) and that "the President of the Republic ensures the regular and balanced functioning and stability of government" (as a whole; Article 94), while the Government is introduced in Article 108.<ref name="constitution">{{cite web | url = http://www.sabor.hr/Default.aspx?sec=729 | title = The Constitution of the Republic of Croatia (consolidated text) | publisher = [[Croatian Parliament]] | access-date = 16 February 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120314021311/http://www.sabor.hr/Default.aspx?sec=729 | archive-date = 14 March 2012 | url-status = dead }}</ref> Since 2000, the prime minister has had various added constitutional powers and is mentioned before the Government itself in the text of the Constitution, in Articles 87, 97, 99, 100, 101, 103, 104.<ref name="constitution"/> The current prime minister of Croatia is [[Andrej Plenković]]. The [[Government of Croatia]] meets in [[Banski dvori]], a historical building located on the west side of [[St. Mark's Square, Zagreb|St. Mark's Square]] in [[Zagreb]].

==Name==

The official name of the office, literally translated, is "President of the Government" (''Predsjednik / Predsjednica Vlade''), rather than a literal translation of "Prime Minister" (''Prvi Ministar''). In Croatian, the shorter term {{lang|hr|Premijer / Premijerka}} ([[Premier]]) is commonly used as well.

==History==
===Background===

The Royal Government of the [[Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia]] (1868–1918) was headed by the [[Ban of Croatia]] (Viceroy), who represented the King.

The first head of government of Croatia as a constituent republic of [[Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia]] was [[Vladimir Bakarić]], who assumed the position on 14 April 1945. The position was then [[Politics of the Socialist Republic of Croatia|the most powerful public office in the state]] in addition to the position of the [[Secretary of the League of Communists of Croatia]], as a single-party system was in place. The head of government was renamed to the President of the Executive Council in 1952. Notably, [[Savka Dabčević-Kučar]] was the first woman (not only in Croatia, but in Europe) to hold an office equivalent to a head of government as Chairman of the Executive Council of the Socialist Republic of Croatia (1967–1969).

===Transition to independence===
After the constitutional amendments that allowed for [[1990 Croatian parliamentary election|multi-party elections in Croatia in 1990]], the country was still a [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia#Federal units|constituent republic of SFR Yugoslavia]], the position of the [[President of the Executive Council of the Socialist Republic of Croatia]] was filled by [[Stjepan Mesić]] on 30 May 1990 (the 14th Executive Council).

The newly-elected [[Croatian Parliament]] enacted numerous amendments to the constitution on 25 July 1990. It eliminated socialist references and adopted new national symbols, while the [[Government of the Republic of Croatia]] was formally instituted by Amendment LXXIII.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/1990_07_31_610.html | title=Odluka o proglašenju Amandmana LXIV. Do LXXV. Na Ustav Socijalističke Republike Hrvatske }}</ref>

The [[Constitution of Croatia]] was subsequently also changed significantly on 22 December 1990, as the so-called "[[Christmas Constitution]]" fundamentally defined the [[Republic of Croatia]] and its governmental structure. From this point onwards, Croatia was a [[semi-presidential republic]], which meant the [[president of Croatia]] had broad executive powers (further expanded with laws to a point of [[superpresidentialism]]), including the appointment and dismissal of the prime minister and other officials in the government.

Following the [[1991 Croatian independence referendum|May 1991 independence referendum]] in which 93% of voters approved secession, Croatia formally [[independence of Croatia|proclaimed independence from Yugoslavia]] on 25 June 1991, with [[Josip Manolić]] continuing in the role of prime minister as head of government of an independent Croatia. However, the country then signed the July 1991 [[Brijuni Agreement]] in which it agreed to postpone further activities towards severing ties with [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]]. Meanwhile, the [[Croatian War of Independence]] ensued, and [[Franjo Gregurić]] was appointed to lead a [[Government of National Unity]]. In October the same year, Croatia formally severed all remaining legal ties with the Yugoslav Federation.

===Since independence===
During the period between 1990 and the next constitutional amendments in late 2000, Croatia had seven prime ministers.<ref name="hidra">{{cite web | url = http://www.hidra.hr/cro/hr_vodic/kronologija_vlade | title = Chronology of Croatian governments | publisher = Croatian Information-Documentation Referral Agency | language = hr | access-date = 2011-05-13 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120222073155/http://www.hidra.hr/cro/hr_vodic/kronologija_vlade | archive-date = 2012-02-22 | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref name="vlada">{{cite web | url = http://www.vlada.hr/hr/naslovnica/o_vladi_rh/prethodne_vlade_rh | language = hr | title = Prethodne Vlade RH | trans-title = Former Governments of the Republic of Croatia | publisher = [[Croatian Government]] | access-date = 2010-12-13 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111123152513/http://www.vlada.hr/hr/naslovnica/o_vladi_rh/prethodne_vlade_rh | archive-date = 2011-11-23 }}</ref>

Following the [[2000 Croatian parliamentary election|January 2000 general election]] the winning centre-left coalition led by the [[Social Democratic Party of Croatia|Social Democratic Party]] amended the Constitution and effectively stripped the President of most of his executive powers, strengthening the role of the Parliament and the prime minister, turning Croatia into a [[parliamentary republic]]. The prime minister again (as before 1990) became the foremost post in Croatian politics.

As of 2025 there have been 12 Prime Ministers who have chaired 16 governments since the first multi-party elections. Nine prime ministers were members of the [[Croatian Democratic Union]] during their terms of office, two were members of the [[Social Democratic Party of Croatia|Social Democratic Party]] and one was not a member of any political party. Since independence there has been one female prime minister ([[Jadranka Kosor]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://vlada.gov.hr/prethodne-vlade-11348/11348?lang=hr|title=Prethodne Vlade|trans-title=Previous Governments|publisher=[[Croatian Government]]|access-date=26 August 2025|language=hr}}</ref>

==List of prime ministers==

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! rowspan="2" |No.
! rowspan="2" |Portrait
! rowspan="2" |Name<br />{{small|(Birth{{ndash}}Death)}}
! rowspan="2" |Election
! colspan="3" |Term of office
! rowspan="2" |Party
! rowspan="2" |Cabinet
! rowspan="2" |Composition
! rowspan="2" |President<br />{{small|(Term)}}
|-
! Term start
!Term end
!Duration
|-
! {{party color cell|Croatian Democratic Union}} {{color|white|1}}
| [[File:Mesic cropped.jpg|85px]]
|'''[[Stjepan Mesić]]'''<br />{{small|(1934{{ndash}})}}
| class="nowrap" |[[1990 Croatian parliamentary election|1990]]
| class="nowrap" | 30 May 1990
| class="nowrap" | 24 August 1990
|{{age in years and days|30 May 1990|24 August 1990}}
| style="background:#ADD8E6 " |[[Croatian Democratic Union|HDZ<br />{{small|Croatian Democratic Union}}]]
| style="background:#ADD8E6 " |[[Cabinet of Stjepan Mesić|Mesić]]
| style="background:#ADD8E6 " |[[Croatian Democratic Union|HDZ]]
| rowspan="2" scope="row" style="text-align:center;" bgcolor="#EEEEEE" |'''[[Franjo Tuđman|Franjo<br />Tuđman]]'''<br />[[File:Flag of the President of Croatia.svg|50px]]<br />{{small|(1990{{ndash}}1999)}}
|-
! {{party color cell|Croatian Democratic Union}} {{color|white|2}}
| [[File:Dan_OSRH_Josip_Manolic_28052011_2.jpg|85px]]
| '''[[Josip Manolić]]'''<br />{{small|(1920{{ndash}}2024)}}
| class="nowrap" |{{mdash}}
| class="nowrap" | 24 August 1990{{ref|1}}
| class="nowrap" | 25 June 1991
| {{age in years and days|24 August 1990|25 June 1991}}
| style="background:#ADD8E6 " |[[Croatian Democratic Union|HDZ<br />{{small|Croatian Democratic Union}}]]
| style="background:#ADD8E6 " |[[Cabinet of Josip Manolić|Manolić]]
| style="background:#ADD8E6 " |[[Croatian Democratic Union|HDZ]]
|}

Croatia formally [[Independence Day (Croatia)|declared itself independent on 25 June 1991]]. After the declaration of independence, the position continued to be named the Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia.

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! rowspan="2" |No.
! rowspan="2" |Portrait
! rowspan="2" |Name<br />{{small|(Birth{{ndash}}Death)}}
! rowspan="2" |Election
! colspan="3" |Term of office
! rowspan="2" |Party
! rowspan="2" |Cabinet
! rowspan="2" |Composition
! rowspan="2" |President<br />{{small|(Term)}}
|-
! Term start
!Term end
!Duration
|-
! {{party color cell|Croatian Democratic Union}} {{color|white|2}}
|[[File:Dan_OSRH_Josip_Manolic_28052011_2.jpg|85px]]
|'''[[Josip Manolić]]'''<br />{{small|(1920{{ndash}}2024)}}
|class="nowrap" |{{mdash}}
|class="nowrap" | 25 June 1991
|class="nowrap" | 17 July 1991
|{{age in years and days|25 June 1991|17 July 1991}}
|style="background:#ADD8E6 " |[[Croatian Democratic Union|HDZ<br />{{small|Croatian Democratic Union}}]]
|style="background:#ADD8E6 " |[[Cabinet of Josip Manolić|Manolić]]
|style="background:#ADD8E6 " |[[Croatian Democratic Union|HDZ]]
|rowspan="6" scope="row" style="text-align:center;" bgcolor="#EEEEEE" |'''[[Franjo Tuđman|Franjo<br />Tuđman]]'''<br />[[File:Flag of the President of Croatia.svg|50px]]<br />{{small|(1990{{ndash}}1999)}}
|-
! {{party color cell|Croatian Democratic Union}} {{color|white|3}}
|[[File:Cvjetni trg simul 20160601 DSC 5221 (cropped).jpg|85px]]
|'''[[Franjo Gregurić]]'''<br />{{small|(1939{{ndash}})}}
| class="nowrap" |{{mdash}}
| class="nowrap" | 17 July 1991{{ref|1}}
|12 August 1992
|{{age in years and days|17 July 1991|12 August 1992}}
| style="background:#ADD8E6 " |[[Croatian Democratic Union|HDZ<br />{{small|Croatian Democratic Union}}]]
| style="background:#ADD8E6 " |[[Cabinet of Franjo Gregurić|Gregurić]]
| style="background:#DDDDDD " |{{small|[[Croatian Democratic Union|HDZ]]{{*}}[[Social Democratic Party of Croatia|SDP]]{{*}}[[Croatian Social Liberal Party|HSLS]]{{*}}[[Croatian People's Party – Liberal Democrats|HNS]]{{*}}[[Croatian Christian Democratic Union|HKDS]]{{*}}[[Croatian Christian Democratic Party|HDS]]{{*}}[[Social Democratic Party of Croatia#MergerwithSDH|SDSH]]{{*}}[[Socialist Party of Croatia|SSH]]}}
|-
! {{party color cell|Croatian Democratic Union}} {{color|white|4}}
|[[File:Hrvoje Šarinić.jpg|85px]]
|'''[[Hrvoje Šarinić]]'''<br />{{small|(1935{{ndash}}2017)}}
| class="nowrap" |[[1992 Croatian parliamentary election|1992]]
| class="nowrap" | 12 August 1992{{ref|1}}
|3 April 1993
|{{age in years and days|12 August 1992|3 April 1993}}
| style="background:#ADD8E6 " |[[Croatian Democratic Union|HDZ<br />{{small|Croatian Democratic Union}}]]
| style="background:#ADD8E6 " |[[Cabinet of Hrvoje Šarinić|Šarinić]]
| style="background:#ADD8E6 " |[[Croatian Democratic Union|HDZ]]
|-
! rowspan="2" {{party color cell|Croatian Democratic Union}} {{color|white|5}}
| rowspan="2" |[[File:Dan_OSRH_Nikica_Valentic_28052011_2.jpg|85px]]
| rowspan="2" |'''[[Nikica Valentić]]'''<br />{{small|(1950{{ndash}}2023)}}
| rowspan="2" class="nowrap" |{{mdash}}
| rowspan="2" class="nowrap" | 3 April 1993{{ref|1}}
| rowspan="2" | 7 November 1995
| rowspan="2" | {{age in years and days|3 April 1993|7 November 1995}}
| rowspan="2" style="background:#ADD8E6 " |[[Croatian Democratic Union|HDZ<br />{{small|Croatian Democratic Union}}]]
| rowspan="2" style="background:#ADD8E6 " |[[Cabinet of Nikica Valentić|Valentić]]
| style="background:#DDDDDD " |{{small|From 3 April 1993 to 31 December 1994:}}<br />{{small|[[Croatian Democratic Union|HDZ]]{{*}}[[Croatian Peasant Party|HSS]]}}
|-
| style="background:#ADD8E6 " |{{small|From 31 December 1994 to 7 November 1995:}}<br />{{small|[[Croatian Democratic Union|HDZ]]}}
|-
! rowspan="2" {{party color cell|Croatian Democratic Union}} {{color|white|6}}
| rowspan="2" |[[File:Zlatko Mateša 1996.jpg|85px]]
| rowspan="2" |'''[[Zlatko Mateša]]'''<br />{{small|(1949{{ndash}})}}
| rowspan="2" class="nowrap" |[[1995 Croatian parliamentary election|1995]]
| rowspan="2" class="nowrap" | 7 November 1995{{ref|1}}
| rowspan="2" |27 January 2000
| rowspan="2" |{{age in years and days|7 November 1995|27 January 2000}}
| rowspan="2" style="background:#ADD8E6 " |[[Croatian Democratic Union|HDZ<br />{{small|Croatian Democratic Union}}]]
| rowspan="2" style="background:#ADD8E6 " |[[Cabinet of Zlatko Mateša|Mateša]]
| rowspan="2" style="background:#ADD8E6 " |[[Croatian Democratic Union|HDZ]]
|-
| rowspan="6" scope="row" style="text-align:center;" bgcolor="#EEEEEE" |'''[[Stjepan Mesić|Stjepan<br />Mesić]]'''<br />[[File:Flag of the President of Croatia.svg|50px]]<br />{{small|(2000{{ndash}}2010)}}
|-
! rowspan="2" {{party color cell|Social Democratic Party of Croatia}} {{color|white|7}}
| rowspan="2" |[[File:Ivica Račan EC.jpg|85px]]
| rowspan="2" |'''[[Ivica Račan]]'''<br />{{small|(1944{{ndash}}2007)}}
| rowspan="2" class="nowrap" |[[2000 Croatian parliamentary election|2000]]
| rowspan="2" class="nowrap" | 27 January 2000{{ref|1}}
| rowspan="2" |23 December 2003
| rowspan="2" |{{age in years and days|27 January 2000|23 December 2003}}
| rowspan="2" style="background:#FFCCCC " |[[Social Democratic Party of Croatia|SDP<br />{{small|Social Democratic Party}}]]
| style="background:#FFCCCC " |[[Cabinet of Ivica Račan I|Račan I]]
| style="background:#DDDDDD " |{{small|[[Social Democratic Party of Croatia|SDP]]{{*}}[[Croatian Social Liberal Party|HSLS]]{{*}}[[Croatian People's Party – Liberal Democrats|HNS]]{{*}}[[Croatian Peasant Party|HSS]]{{*}}[[Istrian Democratic Assembly|IDS]]{{*}}[[Liberal Party (Croatia)|LS]]}}
|-
| style="background:#FFCCCC " |[[Cabinet of Ivica Račan II|Račan II]]
| style="background:#DDDDDD " |{{small|[[Social Democratic Party of Croatia|SDP]]{{*}}[[Croatian Peasant Party|HSS]]{{*}}[[Croatian People's Party – Liberal Democrats|HNS]]{{*}}[[Party of Liberal Democrats|Libra]]{{*}}[[Liberal Party (Croatia)|LS]]}}
|-
! rowspan="2" {{party color cell|Croatian Democratic Union}} {{color|white|8}}
| rowspan="2" |[[File:Sanader cropped.jpg|85px]]
| rowspan="2" |'''[[Ivo Sanader]]'''<br />{{small|(1953{{ndash}})}}
| class="nowrap" |[[2003 Croatian parliamentary election|2003]]
| rowspan="2" class="nowrap" |23 December 2003
| rowspan="2" |6 July 2009
| rowspan="2" |{{age in years and days|23 December 2003|6 July 2009}}
| rowspan="2" style="background:#ADD8E6 " |[[Croatian Democratic Union|HDZ<br />{{small|Croatian Democratic Union}}]]
| style="background:#ADD8E6 " |[[Cabinet of Ivo Sanader I|Sanader I]]
| style="background:#DDDDDD " |{{small|[[Croatian Democratic Union|HDZ]]{{*}}[[Democratic Centre (Croatia)|DC]]}}
|-
| class="nowrap" |[[2007 Croatian parliamentary election|2007]]
| style="background:#ADD8E6 " |[[Cabinet of Ivo Sanader II|Sanader II]]
| style="background:#DDDDDD " |{{small|[[Croatian Democratic Union|HDZ]]{{*}}[[Croatian Social Liberal Party|HSLS]]{{*}}[[Croatian Peasant Party|HSS]]{{*}}[[Independent Democratic Serb Party|SDSS]]}}
|-
! rowspan="2" {{party color cell|Croatian Democratic Union}} {{color|white|9}}
| rowspan="2" |[[File:Jadranka_Kosor_26052011_crop.jpg|85px]]
| rowspan="2" |'''[[Jadranka Kosor]]'''<br />{{small|(1953{{ndash}})}}
| rowspan="2" class="nowrap" |{{mdash}}
| rowspan="2" class="nowrap" |6 July 2009
| rowspan="2" |23 December 2011
| rowspan="2" |{{age in years and days|6 July 2009|23 December 2011}}
| rowspan="2" style="background:#ADD8E6 " |[[Croatian Democratic Union|HDZ<br />{{small|Croatian Democratic Union}}]]
| rowspan="2" style="background:#ADD8E6 " |[[Cabinet of Jadranka Kosor|Kosor]]
| rowspan="2" style="background:#DDDDDD " |{{small|[[Croatian Democratic Union|HDZ]]{{*}}[[Croatian Social Liberal Party|HSLS]]{{*}}[[Croatian Peasant Party|HSS]]{{*}}[[Independent Democratic Serb Party|SDSS]]}}
|-
| rowspan="2" scope="row" style="text-align:center;" bgcolor="#EEEEEE" |'''[[Ivo Josipović|Ivo<br />Josipović]]'''<br />[[File:Flag of the President of Croatia.svg|50px]]<br />{{small|(2010{{ndash}}2015)}}
|-
! rowspan="2" {{party color cell|Social Democratic Party of Croatia}} {{color|white|10}}
| rowspan="2" |[[File:16 obljetnica vojnoredarstvene operacije Oluja 04082011 Zoran Milanovic 38.jpg|85px]]
| rowspan="2" |'''[[Zoran Milanović]]'''<br />{{small|(1966{{ndash}})}}
| rowspan="2" class="nowrap" |[[2011 Croatian parliamentary election|2011]]
| rowspan="2" class="nowrap" | 23 December 2011
| rowspan="2" |22 January 2016
| rowspan="2" |{{age in years and days|23 December 2011|22 January 2016}}
| rowspan="2" style="background:#FFCCCC " |[[Social Democratic Party of Croatia|SDP<br />{{small|Social Democratic Party}}]]
| rowspan="2" style="background:#FFCCCC " |[[Cabinet of Zoran Milanović|Milanović]]
| rowspan="2" style="background:#DDDDDD " |{{small|[[Social Democratic Party of Croatia|SDP]]{{*}}[[Croatian People's Party – Liberal Democrats|HNS]]{{*}}[[Istrian Democratic Assembly|IDS]]}}
|-
| rowspan="4" scope="row" style="text-align:center;" bgcolor="#EEEEEE" |'''[[Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović|Kolinda<br />Grabar<br />Kitarović]]'''<br />[[File:Flag of the President of Croatia.svg|50px]]<br />{{small|(2015{{ndash}}2020)}}
|-
! {{party color cell|Independent (politician)}} 11
|[[File:TihomirOreskovic.jpg|85px]]
|'''[[Tihomir Orešković]]'''<br />{{small|(1966{{ndash}})}}
| class="nowrap" |[[2015 Croatian parliamentary election|2015]]
| class="nowrap" | 22 January 2016
|19 October 2016
|{{age in years and days|22 January 2016|19 October 2016}}
| style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}" |[[Independent politician|Independent]]
| style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}" |[[Cabinet of Tihomir Orešković|Orešković]]
| style="background:#DDDDDD " |{{small|[[Croatian Democratic Union|HDZ]]{{*}}[[Bridge of Independent Lists|MOST]]}}
|-
! rowspan="5" {{party color cell|Croatian Democratic Union}} {{color|white|12}}
| rowspan="5" |[[File:Andrej Plenković (2025-09-02).jpg|85px]]
| rowspan="5" |'''[[Andrej Plenković]]'''<br />{{small|(1970{{ndash}})}}
| rowspan="3" class="nowrap" |[[2016 Croatian parliamentary election|2016]]
| rowspan="5" class="nowrap" | 19 October 2016
| rowspan="5" |Incumbent
| rowspan="5" |{{age in years and days|19 October 2016}}
| rowspan="5" style="background:#ADD8E6 " |[[Croatian Democratic Union|HDZ<br />{{small|Croatian Democratic Union}}]]
| rowspan="3" style="background:#ADD8E6 " |[[Cabinet of Andrej Plenković I|Plenković I]]
| style="background:#DDDDDD " |{{small|From 19 October 2016 to 28 April 2017:}}<br />{{small|[[Croatian Democratic Union|HDZ]]{{*}}[[Bridge of Independent Lists|MOST]]}}
|-
| style="background:#ADD8E6 " |{{small|From 28 April to 9 June 2017:}}<br />[[Croatian Democratic Union|HDZ]]
|-
| style="background:#DDDDDD " |{{small|From 9 June 2017 to 23 July 2020:}}<br />{{small|[[Croatian Democratic Union|HDZ]]{{*}}[[Croatian People's Party – Liberal Democrats|HNS]]}}
| rowspan="3" scope="row" style="text-align:center;" bgcolor="#EEEEEE" |'''[[Zoran Milanović|Zoran<br />Milanović]]'''<br />[[File:Flag of the President of Croatia.svg|50px]]<br />{{small|(2020{{ndash}}present)}}
|-
| class="nowrap" |[[2020 Croatian parliamentary election|2020]]
| style="background:#ADD8E6 " |[[Cabinet of Andrej Plenković II|Plenković II]]
| style="background:#DDDDDD " |{{small|[[Croatian Democratic Union|HDZ]]{{*}}[[Independent Democratic Serb Party|SDSS]]}} 
|-
| class="nowrap" |[[2024 Croatian parliamentary election|2024]]
| style="background:#ADD8E6 " |[[Cabinet of Andrej Plenković III|Plenković III]]
| style="background:#DDDDDD " |{{small|[[Croatian Democratic Union|HDZ]]{{*}}[[Homeland Movement (Croatia)|DP]]}}
|-
|}

; Notes
{{refbegin}}
:1.{{note|a}} From 1990 until the constitutional changes enacted in 2000, which replaced a powerful semi-presidential system (''de facto'' a superpresidential system) with an incomplete parliamentary system, the term of the Prime Minister legally began on the date on which he was appointed by the President of the Republic and not on the date when he received a vote of confidence in Parliament, as is the case since 2000.
:2.{{note|b}} Until 12 October 2010.
{{refend}}

==Timeline==
This is a [[Bar chart|graphical]] '''lifespan timeline of prime ministers of Croatia'''. They are listed in order of office.

<div style="overflow:auto">
{{#tag:timeline|
Define $width = 1000 # 4 pixels per year ($end - $start) × 4
Define $warning = 880 # $width - 120
Define $height = 400 # 12 × 25 + 150
Define $footnote = 800 # $width  - 400

Define $start = 1918 # Just before eldest (Manolić) was born
Define $end = {{CURRENTYEAR}}
Define $now = {{CURRENTYEAR}}

ImageSize  = width:$width height:$height
PlotArea   = right:10 left:1 bottom:80 top:60
Period     = from:$start till:$end
TimeAxis   = orientation:horizontal
Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:1

Colors =
     id:bg                value:white
     id:lightline         value:rgb(0.8, 0.8, 0.8)
     id:lighttext         value:rgb(0.5, 0.5, 0.5)
     id:LIFESPAN          value:rgb(0.88, 0.90, 0.70) Legend: Lifespan
     id:PM_IND            value:rgb(0.8, 0.8, 0.8) Legend: Independent
     id:PM_HDZ            value:rgb(0, 0.36, 0.67) Legend: HDZ
     id:PM_SDP            value:rgb(0.93, 0.11, 0.14) Legend: SDP
     id:NAME              value:rgb(0.15, 0.13, 0.05)
     id:TODAY             value:green

BackgroundColors = canvas:bg
ScaleMinor = gridcolor:lightline unit:year increment:1 start:$start
ScaleMajor = gridcolor:lighttext unit:year increment:10 start:1920

Define $dy = -5 # shift text to button side of bar

LineData=
   at:$now color:TODAY width:0.1

PlotData=
  bar:1 width:18
    color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M
    from:1934 till:1990 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:[[Stjepan Mesić]]
    color:PM_HDZ
    from:1990 till:1990.4
    color:LIFESPAN
    from:1990.4 till:$now

  bar:2 width:18
    color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M
    from:1920 till:1990.4 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:[[Josip Manolić]]
    color:PM_HDZ
    from:1990.4 till:1991
    color:LIFESPAN
    from:1991 till:2024

  bar:3 width:18
    color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M
    from:1939 till:1991 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:[[Franjo Gregurić]]
    color:PM_HDZ
    from:1991 till:1992
    color:LIFESPAN
    from:1992 till:$now

  bar:4 width:18
    color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M
    from:1935 till:1992 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:[[Hrvoje Šarinić]]
    color:PM_HDZ
    from:1992 till:1993
    color:LIFESPAN
    from:1993 till:2017

  bar:5 width:18
    color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M
    from:1950 till:1993 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:[[Nikica Valentić]]
    color:PM_HDZ
    from:1993 till:1995
    color:LIFESPAN
    from:1995 till:2023

  bar:6 width:18
    color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M
    from:1949 till:1995 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:[[Zlatko Mateša]]
    color:PM_HDZ
    from:1995 till:2000
    color:LIFESPAN
    from:2000 till:$now

  bar:7 width:18
    color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M
    from:1944 till:2000 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:[[Ivica Račan]]
    color:PM_SDP
    from:2000 till:2003
    color:LIFESPAN
    from:2003 till:2007

  bar:8 width:18
    color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M
    from:1953 till:2003 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:[[Ivo Sanader]]
    color:PM_HDZ
    from:2003 till:2009
    color:LIFESPAN
    from:2009 till:$now

  bar:9 width:18
    color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M
    from:1953 till:2009 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:[[Jadranka Kosor]]
    color:PM_HDZ
    from:2009 till:2011
    color:LIFESPAN
    from:2011 till:$now

  bar:10 width:18
    color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M
    from:1966 till:2011 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:[[Zoran Milanović]]
    color:PM_SDP
    from:2011 till:2016
    color:LIFESPAN
    from:2016 till:$now

  bar:11 width:18
    color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M
    from:1966 till:2016 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:[[Tihomir Orešković]]
    color:PM_IND
    from:2016 till:2016.4
    color:LIFESPAN
    from:2016.4 till:$now

  bar:12 width:18
    color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M
    from:1970 till:2016.4 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:[[Andrej Plenković]]
    color:PM_HDZ
    from:2016.4 till:$now

TextData =
  fontsize:M
  textcolor:green
  pos:($warning,30)
  text:Updated {{CURRENTMONTH}}/{{CURRENTYEAR}}

TextData =
   pos:(250,$height)
   fontsize:L
   textcolor:black
   text:"Lifespan and terms of office of each Croatian Prime Minister"
}}</div>

==Spouses of prime ministers==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name
! Relation to Prime Minister
|-
| [[Milka Mesić]] ([[née]] Dudunić)
| wife of Prime Minister [[Stjepan Mesić]]
|-
| Marija Eker Manolić
| wife of Prime Minister [[Josip Manolić]]
|-
| Jozefina Gregurić ([[née]] Abramović)
| wife of Prime Minister [[Franjo Gregurić]]
|-
| Erika Šarinić
| wife of Prime Minister [[Hrvoje Šarinić]]
|-
| Antonela Valentić
| wife of Prime Minister [[Nikica Valentić]]
|-
| Sanja Gregurić-Mateša
| wife of Prime Minister [[Zlatko Mateša]]
|-
| Dijana Pleština
| wife of Prime Minister [[Ivica Račan]]
|-
| Mirjana Sanader ([[née]] Šarić)
| wife of Prime Minister [[Ivo Sanader]]
|-
|
| [[Jadranka Kosor]] divorced before becoming prime minister
|-
| [[Sanja Musić Milanović]]
| wife of Prime Minister [[Zoran Milanović]]
|-
| Sanja Dujmović Orešković
| wife of Prime Minister [[Tihomir Orešković]]
|-
| [[Ana Maslać Plenković]]
| wife of Prime Minister [[Andrej Plenković]]
|}

==See also==
*[[List of cabinets of Croatia]]
*[[List of Croatian prime ministers by time in office]]
*[[President of Croatia]]
**[[List of presidents of Croatia]]
*[[Speaker of the Croatian Parliament]]
*[[Secretary of the League of Communists of Croatia]]
*[[Politics of Croatia]]
*[[List of heads of state of Yugoslavia]]
*[[Prime Minister of Yugoslavia]]
*[[2020 St. Mark's Square attack]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Croatia topics|state=collapsed}}
{{Croatian Prime Minister}}
{{Europe heads of state and government}}
{{European Council}}
{{Prime Minister}}

[[Category:Prime ministers of Croatia| ]]
[[Category:Lists of prime ministers by country|Croatia, List of Prime Ministers of]]
[[Category:Lists of political office-holders in Croatia]]
[[Category:1990 establishments in Croatia]]