Zlatko Tomčić

Who is Zlatko Tomčić?

Zlatko Tomčić is a former Croatian politician, the leader of the Croatian Peasant Party from 1994 to 2005. He served as the President of the Croatian Parliament, as a representative in the Parliament, and as acting President of Croatia for a brief period. He has graduated from the University of Belgrade Faculty of Civil Engineering.

Tomčić became leader of the Croatian Peasant Party in 1994 while serving as a Minister of Construction and Environment in the Croatian Democratic Union-led cabinet of Nikica Valentić. Under his leadership, the Peasant Party led the coalition that came in second in the 1995 elections, winning 18 seats, of which 10 went to members of HSS, including Tomčić.

In the 2000 elections the HSS-led coalition came in third, winning 25 seats, of which 17 went to HSS. These parties joined with the election winners to form the government, and Tomčić became the President of the Parliament. He was instated on 2 February 2000.

As the speaker of parliament, Tomčić also briefly served as the acting President of Croatia, as the post was at the time vacant due to the death of President Franjo Tuđman in December 1999. He gave up the position to the newly elected president Stipe Mesić on 18 February 2000.