Opposition (Croatia)
# Opposition (Croatia)

In Croatia, the Opposition (Croatian: Oporba) comprises all political parties represented in the Croatian Parliament that are not part of the Government which is supported by the parliamentary majority.

The Leader of the Opposition (Croatian: Šef oporbe) is the unofficial title held by the leader of the largest party with no representatives within the government. Where one party wins outright this is usually the leader of the second largest political party in the Parliament (usually the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) or the Social Democratic Party (SDP)).

The current Leader of the Opposition is Davorko Vidović, president of the Social Democrats, who took up the role on 9 July 2022, upon the party's official establishment.

## 6th assembly of Sabor

In the Sixth assembly of the Croatian Parliament (2007–2011), the parties in Sabor that included the opposition were:

* Social Democratic Party
* Croatian People's Party – Liberal Democrats
* Istrian Democratic Assembly
* Croatian Democratic Assembly of Slavonia and Baranja
* Croatian Party of Pensioners
* Croatian Party of Rights
* Croatian Labourists – Labour Party

The leader of the opposition was Zoran Milanović, leader of the Social Democratic Party of Croatia.

## 7th assembly of Sabor

In the Seventh assembly of the Croatian Parliament (2011–2015), the parties in Sabor that include the opposition were:

* Croatian Democratic Union
* Croatian Labourists – Labour Party
* Croatian Democratic Assembly of Slavonia and Baranja
* Independent list of Ivan Grubišić
* Croatian Citizen Party
* Croatian Party of Rights dr. Ante Starčević
* Croatian Peasant Party
* Democratic Centre

## 8th assembly of Sabor

In the Eight assembly of the Croatian Parliament (2015–2016), the parties in Sabor that include the opposition are:

* Social Democratic Party
* Croatian People's Party – Liberal Democrats
* Croatian Labourists – Labour Party
* Istrian Democratic Assembly
* Croatian Party of Pensioners
* Croatian Democratic Alliance of Slavonia and Baranja
* People's Party - Reformists
* Human Blockade

## 9th assembly of Sabor

In the Ninth assembly of the Croatian Parliament (2016–2020), the parties in Sabor that include the opposition are:

* Social Democratic Party
* Istrian Democratic Assembly
* Human Blockade
* Croatian Party of Pensioners
* Croatian Democratic Alliance of Slavonia and Baranja
* Bridge of Independent Lists

The leader of the opposition from 14 October 2016 until 26 November 2016 was Zoran Milanović and since 26 November 2016 it has been Davor Bernardić, the leader of the Social Democratic Party.

## 10th assembly of Sabor

In the Tenth assembly of the Croatian Parliament (2020–), the parties in Sabor that include the opposition are:

* Social Democratic Party
* Istrian Democratic Assembly
* The Bridge
* Homeland Movement
* We can!
* Croatian Sovereignists
* Social Democrats (since 9 July 2022)

The acting leader of the opposition from 6 July 2020 until 3 October 2020 was Zlatko Komadina, and from 3 October 2020 until 9 July 2022 it had been Peđa Grbin, the leader of the Social Democratic Party. A new party called the Social Democrats was founded on 9 July 2022, and it immediately became the largest opposition party in parliament. Its leader, Davorko Vidović, thus took up the role of leader of the opposition.

## List of leaders of the Opposition since the first multi-party election

Social Democratic Party of Croatia (3)  Croatian Social Liberal Party (1)  Croatian Democratic Union (3)

| No. | Leader | Leader | Political Party | Term of office | Duration | Prime Minister |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | | Ivica Račan | Party of Democratic Changes | 30 May 1990– 17 July 1991 | 1 year, 48 days | Stjepan Mesić (1990) Josip Manolić (1990–1991) |
| None — National Unity Government | None — National Unity Government | None — National Unity Government | None — National Unity Government | 17 July 1991– 12 August 1992 | 1 year, 27 days | Franjo Gregurić (1991–1992) |
| 2 | | Dražen Budiša | Croatian Social Liberal Party | 12 August 1992– 27 January 2000 | 7 years, 167 days | Hrvoje Šarinić (1992–1993) Nikica Valentić (1993–1995) Zlatko Mateša (1995–2000) |
| — | | Vladimir Šeks | Croatian Democratic Union | 27 January 2000– 30 April 2000 | 93 days | Ivica Račan (2000–2003) |
| 3 | | Ivo Sanader | Croatian Democratic Union | 30 April 2000– 23 December 2003 | 3 years, 237 days | Ivica Račan (2000–2003) |
| (1) | | Ivica Račan | Social Democratic Party | 23 December 2003– 11 April 2007 | 3 years, 109 days | Ivo Sanader (2003–2009) Jadranka Kosor (2009–2011) |
| — | | Željka Antunović | Social Democratic Party | 11 April 2007– 2 June 2007 | 52 days | Ivo Sanader (2003–2009) Jadranka Kosor (2009–2011) |
| 4 | | Zoran Milanović | Social Democratic Party | 2 June 2007– 23 December 2011 | 4 years, 204 days | Ivo Sanader (2003–2009) Jadranka Kosor (2009–2011) |
| 5 | | Jadranka Kosor | Croatian Democratic Union | 23 December 2011– 21 May 2012 | 150 days | Zoran Milanović (2011–2016) |
| 6 | | Tomislav Karamarko | Croatian Democratic Union | 21 May 2012– 22 January 2016 | 3 years, 246 days | Zoran Milanović (2011–2016) |
| (4) | | Zoran Milanović | Social Democratic Party | 22 January 2016– 26 November 2016 | 309 days | Tihomir Orešković (2016) Andrej Plenković (2016–present) |
| 7 | | Davor Bernardić | Social Democratic Party | 26 November 2016– 6 July 2020 | 3 years, 223 days | Tihomir Orešković (2016) Andrej Plenković (2016–present) |
| — | | Zlatko Komadina | Social Democratic Party | 6 July 2020– 3 October 2020 | 89 days | Tihomir Orešković (2016) Andrej Plenković (2016–present) |
| 8 | | Peđa Grbin | Social Democratic Party | 3 October 2020– 9 July 2022 | 1 year, 279 days | Tihomir Orešković (2016) Andrej Plenković (2016–present) |
| 9 | | Davorko Vidović | Social Democrats | 9 July 2022– present | 226 days | Tihomir Orešković (2016) Andrej Plenković (2016–present) |

## Leaders of the Opposition by time in office

1. Dražen Budiša 7 years, 167 days 2. Zoran Milanović 5 years, 148 days 3. Ivica Račan 4 years, 157 days 4. Tomislav Karamarko 3 years, 246 days 5. Ivo Sanader 3 years, 237 days 6. Davor Bernardić 3 years, 223 days 7. Peđa Grbin 1 year, 279 days 8. Jadranka Kosor 150 days 9. Vladimir Šeks (Acting) 93 days 10. Zlatko Komadina (Acting) 89 days 11. Željka Antunović (Acting) 52 days 12. Davorko Vidović 226 days

