Jump to content

Ivo Sanader: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
Bora Nesic (talk | contribs)
m Early life, education and family life: added preposition for correct grammar, minor edit
GreenC bot (talk | contribs)
 
(998 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Croatian politician (born 1953)}}
{{Infobox_President | name=Ivo Sanader
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}
| image=
{{Infobox officeholder
| order=8th [[Prime Minister of Croatia]]
| name = Ivo Sanader
| term_start=[[December 23]], [[2003]]
| image = Ivo Sanader Svecanost podizanja NATOve zastave Zagreb 67 crop.jpg
| term_end=''present''
| caption = Sanader in 2009
| predecessor=[[Ivica Račan]]
| order = <!-- Please do not add his order, it is against WP:MOS, unused and clutter, only exception is the President of the United States. -->
| successor=incumbent
| office = [[Prime Minister of Croatia]]
| birth_date={{Birth date and age|1953|6|8|mf=y}}
| president = [[Stjepan Mesić]]
| birth_place={{flagicon|SFR Yugoslavia}} [[Split]], [[SR Croatia]], [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|SFR Yugoslavia]]
| deputy = {{Collapsible list|title=[[Cabinet of Ivo Sanader I|Cabinet I]] (2003–2008)|[[Jadranka Kosor]]|[[Andrija Hebrang (son)|Andrija Hebrang]]|[[Damir Polančec]]}}
| dead=alive
{{Collapsible list|title=[[Cabinet of Ivo Sanader II|Cabinet II]] (2008–2009)|[[Đurđa Adlešič]]|[[Jadranka Kosor]]|[[Damir Polančec]]|[[Slobodan Uzelac]]}}
| death_date=
| term_start = 23 December 2003
| death_place=
| term_end = 6 July 2009
| nationality= [[Croatia]]n
| predecessor = [[Ivica Račan]]
| spouse= Mirjana Sanader
| successor = [[Jadranka Kosor]]
| political party=[[Croatian Democratic Union]]
| office1 = [[Ministry of Science and Education (Croatia)|Minister of Science and Technology]]
| children= Bruna and Petra
| term_start1 = 12 August 1992
| alma_mater= [[University of Innsbruck]]
| term_end1 = 7 January 1993
| occupation=
| predecessor1 = [[Jure Radić (engineer)|Jure Radić]]
| religion= [[Roman Catholic]]
| successor1 = Branko Jeren
| vicepresident=
{{Collapsed infobox section begin|Further offices held}}
| office2 = [[Leader of the Opposition (Croatia)|Leader of the Opposition]]
| term_start2 = 30 April 2000
| term_end2 = 23 December 2003
| predecessor2 = [[Ivica Račan]]<br />[[Vladimir Šeks]] {{small|(Acting)}}
| successor2 = [[Ivica Račan]]
| office3 = [[List of chairpersons of the Croatian Democratic Union|President of the Croatian Democratic Union]]
| term_start3 = 30 April 2000
| term_end3 = 4 July 2009
| predecessor3 = [[Franjo Tuđman]]<br />[[Vladimir Šeks]] {{small|(Acting)}}
| successor3 = [[Jadranka Kosor]]
| parliament4 = Croatian
| constituency_MP4 = 10th electoral district
| term_start4 = 13 October 2010
| term_end4 = 22 December 2011
| term_start5 = 2 February 2000
| term_end5 = 22 December 2003
| office6 = [[President of Croatia|Chief of Staff of the Office of the President of Croatia]]
| term_start6 = 24 November 1995
| term_end6 = 5 November 1996
| president6 = [[Franjo Tuđman]]
| predecessor6 = [[Hrvoje Šarinić]]
| successor6 = [[Hrvoje Šarinić]]{{Collapsed infobox section end}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1953|06|08|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Split, Croatia|Split]], [[Socialist Republic of Croatia|PR Croatia]], [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|FPR Yugoslavia]]
| spouse = {{marriage|Mirjana Šarić|1978}}<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://arhiva.nacional.hr/clanak/63529/kako-se-kucio-odbjegli-premijer |title=Kako se kućio odbjegli premijer |trans-title=How the runaway prime minister built his estate |first1=Plamenko |last1=Cvitić |first2=Orhidea |last2=Gaura |date=10 December 2010 |magazine=[[Nacional (weekly)|Nacional]] |language=hr |access-date=24 January 2019 |location=Zagreb |archive-date=20 November 2012 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121120021019/http://www.nacional.hr/clanak/63529/kako-se-kucio-odbjegli-premijer}}</ref>
| nationality =
| party = [[Croatian Democratic Union]] {{small|(1989–2010)}}
| otherparty =
| children = 2
| alma_mater = [[University of Innsbruck]]
| occupation = {{hlist|Writer| historian|politician}}
}}
}}
'''Ivo Sanader''' ({{IPA-hr|ǐːʋo sanǎːder}}; born 8 June 1953) is a Croatian former politician who served as [[Prime Minister of Croatia]] from 2003 to 2009. He is currently serving a 18-year prison sentence for corruption in Lipovica prison.
{{Politics of Croatia}}
'''Ivo Sanader''' [{{IPA|ˈiːʋɔ saˈnaːdɛr}}] (born [[June 8]], [[1953]] in [[Split]]) is the current [[Prime Minister]] of [[Croatia]] (President of the [[Croatian Government|Government]]).


Sanader is to date the second longest-serving prime minister since Croatia's independence, holding the office for over five and a half years before resigning in July 2009. He is one of only two Croatian prime ministers (along with [[Andrej Plenković]]) who have served more than one term, winning the general elections in [[2003 Croatian parliamentary election|2003]] and [[2007 Croatian parliamentary election|2007]]. He is also, along with [[Ivica Račan]] and Plenković, one of the three prime ministers who have been at the head of more than one government cabinet, chairing his [[Cabinet of Ivo Sanader I|first]] cabinet from 23 December 2003 until 12 January 2008, and his [[Cabinet of Ivo Sanader II|second]] cabinet from 12 January 2008 until his resignation on 6 July 2009.
== Early life, education and family life==
Ivo Sanader was born on [[June 8]], [[1953]] in [[Split]]. He lived in a religious [[Catholic]] family with three brothers and one sister. The humble Sanader family couldn't afford high school study for all of their children, so Ivo's mother asked rector of a Catholic high school to accept him into his school. After completing his high school education he left for [[Rome]] to acquire a higher education in [[philosophy]], but he soon realized that he didn't like the academic environment there very much. After his return from Rome he met his future spouse, Mirjana, who he married in [[1978]]. After their wedding, Ivo and Mirjana left Split for [[Innsbruck]]. His wife attended a study of [[archaeology]], while Ivo attended a study of [[comparative literature]] and studies of Romance languages at the [[University of Innsbruck]]. The young couple was acompanied, while studding in Innsbruck, by Ivo’s younger brother Miro who also lived and studied in Innsbruck. During that time Sanader also reported for the [[Zagreb]] sport newspaper ''[[Sportske novosti]]''. In 1982, Sanader graduated, and returned to Croatia with his wife. He found a job in the marketing department of [[Dalmacijaturist]], however he didn’t stay very long. He found his next job at the publishing house Logos in 1983 where he was employed on as a program editor. In [[1988]] he became a chief editor and at time he was working on the organization of the magazine ''[[Mogućnost]]''. His career at the publishing house was later terminated suddenly. At that time his wife also received a notice of termination from her workplace. After that Ivo Sanader decided to move back to [[Austria]] with his family. In Austria he founded two private business. One favourable thing for him was that he never lost touch with his homeland while he was in there. Sanader achieved a PhD in [[Romance languages]] and [[comparative literature]] from Innsbruck University in [[Austria]]. Besides his native language of Croatian he achieved a fluency in German, English, French and Italian. He fathered two children.<ref>http://www.moljac.hr/biografije/sanader.htm{{hr icon}}</ref> <ref>http://www.index.hr/vijesti/clanak.aspx?id=177669{{hr icon}}</ref>


Sanader obtained his education in [[comparative literature]] in Austria, where he also worked as a journalist, in marketing, publishing, and as an entrepreneur. In the 1990s, he was briefly the [[intendant]] of the [[Croatian National Theatre in Split]] before becoming [[Ministry of Science and Education (Croatia)|Minister for Science and Technology]] as a member of the ruling [[Croatian Democratic Union]] (HDZ) in the [[cabinet of Hrvoje Šarinić]] in 1992. In 1993, he moved into diplomacy and served two terms as Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs.
== Early political career ==
At the end of [[1980s]] he founded the first branch of [[HDZ]] in Austria and at this time he first came into contact with [[Franjo Tuđman]]. He returns to Split, on persuasion from Franjo Tuđman although his wife was against their return to Croatia, at the morning of war for Croatia independence. Sanader returned to [[Split]] from [[Austria]] at the beginning of the [[1990's]]. His first public office was manager of Croatian National Theatre in Split. In [[1992]] he was elected as an [[HDZ|HDZ's]] deputy to the lower house of the Croatian parliament. Shortly thereafter he became Minister of Science and Technology ([[1992]]-[[1993]]). From [[1993]] to [[1995]] and [[1996]] to [[2000]] he was a Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs. His biggest success as Depuy Minister for Foreign Affairs was the termination of required visas for Croatia citizens who traveled to Greece. But Sanader's sense for negotiation was also used for other purposes. He used his negotiation skills for bringing people around to the Croatian Democratic Union from other Croatia parliament parties. At the end of November [[1995 he becomes a head of President of Croatia office and general secretary of Croatia national security and defense council(VONS) after Hrvoje Šarinić was released from his duty. In January of [[1996]] he became a member of the council for cooperation between Republic of Croatia and Republic of [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]]. During his second term as a Deputy Minster for Foreign Affairs he worked hard to bring Croatia and [[Israel]] together. Peak of this efforts was the meeting between himself, [[Hrvoje Šarinić]] and [[Eytan Bentsur]], vice Minster for foreign affairs in the Israeli government, in [[Budapest]] [[1997]], after which diplomatic relationships between Croatia and Israel were established.<ref>http://www.vlada.hr/english/premijer/predsjednik_vlade_ivo_sanader</ref><!-- Commented out because image was deleted: [[Image:Sanader Ivo.jpg|thumb|]] -->


Following the death of [[Franjo Tuđman]], Sanader was elected [[List of chairpersons of the Croatian Democratic Union|president]] of the HDZ in 2000, and again in 2002, and led the party to victory in the 2003, and 2007 elections, becoming Croatia's Prime Minister. In June 2009, he abruptly resigned his post, leaving scarce explanation for his actions and disappearing from public life for a while. In January 2010, he tried to stage a political comeback within the HDZ, but was ejected from party membership.
== Political career ==
In [[2000]], following Tuđman's death, HDZ suffered defeat at [[Croatian parliamentary election, 2000|parliamentary elections]]. Furthermore, their candidate [[Mate Granić]] also failed to enter the second round of the presidential elections. Granić then left to form the [[Democratic Centre]] party hoping to attract moderates from the [[HDZ]]. Inner-party election within the HDZ ensued in April that year and Sanader emerged victorious as a compromise candidate.


In December 2010, Croatian authorities indicted Sanader in two high-profile corruption cases. He fled the country but was apprehended in Austria and extradited to Croatia in July 2011. In November 2012, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison in a first instance verdict, later reduced to {{frac|8|1|2}} years, for funneling 10.4 million euros in public money to the Fimi Media company. However, his sentence was annulled by Croatia's [[Constitutional Court of Croatia|Constitutional Court]] in 2015. With the exception of numerous Croatian officials who were sentenced to imprisonment during the existence of the socialist [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]], he is the first Croatian head of government and highest ranking state official to be tried and sentenced to a jail term. In October 2018, Sanader was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for [[war profiteering]] and ordered to return $570,000 in kickbacks from Hypo Bank. In November 2020, he was sentenced to eight years in jail for his role in a [[retrial]] of the Fimi Media case.<ref>{{cite web|title=Croatian Ex-Premier Sanader Convicted in Slush Fund Case Retrial |url=https://balkaninsight.com/2020/11/13/croatian-ex-premier-sanader-convicted-in-slush-fund-case-retrial/ |access-date=14 November 2020 |work=Balkan Insight |date=13 November 2020}}</ref> Some Croatian journalists evaluate Sanader's leadership of Croatia as a "kleptocratic-clientelistic era".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-12 |title=Jutarnji list - Ljudi su zaboravili što smo sve trebali proći, samo se prisjetite što je 2011. rekao poznati njemački političar |url=https://novac.jutarnji.hr/novac/aktualno/ljudi-su-zaboravili-sto-smo-sve-trebali-proci-samo-se-prisjetite-sto-je-2011-rekao-poznati-njemacki-politicar-15221603 |access-date=2022-07-12 |website=novac.jutarnji.hr |language=hr-hr}}</ref>
Initially Sanader criticized the ICTY indictments against Croatian Army generals which had provoked much discontent in [[Croatia]]. In [[2001]] he took part in a massive rally against a war crimes indictment against general [[Mirko Norac]]. Sanader also criticised [[Ivica Račan]] and his cabinet's stance towards the ICTY. Afterwards, he gradually began to distance the party and himself from the protests somewhat softening his criticism towards the government.


==Early life==
Sanader focused his efforts on transforming the [[HDZ]] into a modern pro-European right-of-center party. However, his course was challenged by the right-wing of the party led by [[Ivić Pašalić]]. The ensuing leadership struggle culminated at the 2002 party convention. Sanader, who was supported by [[Vladimir Šeks]] and [[Branimir Glavaš]], managed to win his second mandate. Pašalić left the party to form his [[Croatian Bloc]], but failed to draw many of his former supporters from the [[HDZ]].
Sanader was born in [[Split, Croatia|Split]] to a poor, religious, working-class family originating from Dugobabe, a village in the Split hinterland.{{sfn|Radoš|2015|pp=4–7}} He was one of five children so, as his family was financially unable to support their education, his mother asked the rector of the [[Archdiocesan Classical Gymnasium|Archbishopric Classical Gymnasium]] to accept Ivo as a student. At the gymnasium, Sanader distinguished himself as one of the top students, excelling in history and languages.{{sfn|Radoš|2015|pp=14–15}} After completing high school, Sanader spent one year in [[Rome]] studying [[philosophy]].<ref>[http://www.jutarnji.hr/sanader--studirao-sam-filozofiju-na-gregoriani-tajnik-sveucilista--taj-gospodin-nikad-nije-bio-ovdje-/1018743 Ivo Sanader biodata] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160427224730/http://www.jutarnji.hr/sanader--studirao-sam-filozofiju-na-gregoriani-tajnik-sveucilista--taj-gospodin-nikad-nije-bio-ovdje-/1018743/ |date=27 April 2016 }}, jutarnji.hr; accessed 28 April 2015.</ref>{{sfn|Radoš|2015|p=18}} Following his return from Rome he met Mirjana Šarić, whom he married in 1978.<ref name="VL"/>{{sfn|Radoš|2015|pp=19–20}}


After their wedding, Ivo and Mirjana, and Ivo's younger brother Miro left Split for [[Innsbruck]], Austria. His wife studied [[archaeology]], while Ivo studied [[comparative literature]] and [[Romance languages]] at the [[University of Innsbruck]]. During that time, Sanader worked as a correspondent for the [[Zagreb]] sport newspaper ''[[Sportske novosti]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vecernji.hr/vijesti/sanader-iznosi-obranu-neduzan-sam-kao-i-hdz-1378653|title=Sanader iznosi obranu: Tražim oslobađajuću presudu za sebe i stranku|date=12 February 2020|work=[[Večernji list]]|language=hr|access-date=7 January 2021}}</ref>
Sanader was now able to concentrate on defeating [[Ivica Račan]] and his left-of-centre coalition at the [[Croatian parliamentary election, 2003|2003 parliamentary elections]]. [[HDZ]], nevertheless, failed to win the absolute majority in [[Sabor]]. After the victory of his [[Croatian Democratic Union]] ([[HDZ]]) the President of the Republic named Sanader the Prime Minister designate on [[December 9]], [[2003]]. However, in the post-election negotiations Sanader ensured the support of ethnic minority representatives, nominally left-wing [[Croatian Party of Pensioners]] and the [[Independent Democratic Serbian Party]]. When [[Croatian Parliament]] subsequently gave its consent by 88 votes (out of 152) on [[December 23]], [[2003]] Sanader was formally appointed.


In 1982, Sanader received his PhD degree, and returned to Croatia (then Yugoslavia) with his wife. He found a job in the marketing department of Dalmacijaturist (Dalmatia Tourist), for a brief period, followed by a lengthy period at the publishing house Logos from 1983, initially as a program editor. In 1988 he became a chief editor, at one time working on the magazine ''Mogućnosti'' (Possibilities). His career at the publishing house was later terminated.{{Clarify|date=November 2010}} At that time, his wife also received a notice of termination from her workplace.{{citation needed|date=April 2015}}
== Leader of the Croatian Democratic Union ==
On the 5th convention of Croatian Democratic Union in 2000 he was chosen as a president of the party. On that same assemble he said that: ''in Croatia there wouldn’t be enough jails if previous government had behave like coalition, that is in power, is behaving now.''{{fact}} As a head of Croatian Democratic Union he worked hard in transforming the party in to democratic Europe party that is now.


In 1987, Sanader decided to return to Austria with his family,{{sfn|Radoš|2015|p=24}} where he co-founded two businesses, one in 1989 which was liquidated by a court in 1992, while the other existed between 1986 and 2001.<ref name="Nacional 583">{{cite magazine |url=http://arhiva.nacional.hr/en/clanak/30688/sanaders-austrian-affairs |title=Sanader's Austrian Affairs |magazine=[[Nacional (weekly)|Nacional]] |issue=583 |date=16 January 2007 |author=Robert Bajruši |access-date=21 December 2020 |archive-date=31 May 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120531072330/http://www.nacional.hr/en/clanak/30688/sanaders-austrian-affairs }}</ref> Failure of his businesses prompted Sanader to enter politics in the 1990s.{{sfn|Radoš|2015|p=27}}
== Prime minister ==
[[Image:I. Sanader with G.W. Bush.jpg|thumb|With President [[G.W. Bush]] at [[White House]] on October 18, 2006.]]
Sanader's government main foreign goal is Croatia's entry into the [[European Union]] and [[NATO]]. As a result of the successful implementation of the Association Agreement - signed with the [[European Union]] in [[2001]] - [[Croatia]] has become 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 the political and economic criteria established by the 1993 Copenhagen European Council. Croatia is expected to complete negotiations with the EU shortly after Sanader's term of office. Sanader has close relations with other moderate conservative politicians in Europe, including former [[Austria]]n [[Chancellor]] [[Wolfgang Schüssel]], former [[Bavaria]]n [[Prime Minister]] [[Edmund Stoiber]] and [[Chancellor of Germany]] [[Angela Merkel]].<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Sanader & Merkel.jpg|thumb|With [[Chancellor of Germany]] Angela Merkel.]] -->


Apart from his native [[Croatian language|Croatian]], he is fluent in [[English language|English]], [[German language|German]], [[French language|French]], and [[Italian language|Italian]].<ref name="VL">{{cite web|url=https://www.vecernji.hr/enciklopedija/ivo-sanader-18532|title=Ivo Sanader|work=vecernji.hr|language=hr|access-date=21 December 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.index.hr/vijesti/clanak.aspx?id=177669|title=Životopis predsjednika hrvatske Vlade Ive Sanadera|date=23 December 2003|work=Index.hr|language=hr|access-date=9 October 2009}}</ref>
Since the inception of his term Croatia has experienced an economic growth of around 4 per cent annually as well as improvements in the judicial system and land registry. However, the cabinet has also seen some changes, notably the departure of the foreign minister [[Miomir Žužul]] who was accused for conflict of interest.
Furthermore, Sanader's government was challenged by the rising tide of [[Euroscepticism]] in the country. In October 2005, following the formal start of EU accession negotiations, opinion surveys showed Sanader to be the most popular Croatian politician. Only a few weeks later, his government's decision to sign a treaty compensating Austrian citizens whose property had been nationalised in the post-WWII Yugoslav era met with strong opposition from Croatia's president Stipe Mesić. This, in turn, reduced Sanader's popularity in the polls.<!-- Unsourced image removed: [[Image:Cheney & Sanader.jpg|thumb|With Vice President [[Dick Cheney|Cheney]].]] -->


==Political career==
== Controversies ==
===Beginnings (1990s–2000)===
The biggest affair that Sanader faced as a Prime Minster was affair over his collection of wrist watches. He has a collection of wrist watches worth 150,000 €. Former minster of justice, [[Vesna Škare Ožbolt]], in Sander government was the one who reported Sander to a Council for determination in conflict of interests. Vesna Škare Ožbolt said that Prime Minster didn’t reported a collection of expensive [[watch|wrist watches]] in his asset card.
Unlike many Croatian political figures of Sanader's generation, he was not actively involved in politics in his younger years – neither as a member of the [[League of Communists of Croatia]] (Croatia's party which formed the single bloc which governed Yugoslavia), nor as a dissident in exile.


In October 1990, after multi-party system had returned to Yugoslavia, he founded the Tirol branch of the [[Croatian Democratic Union]] (HDZ) in Austria, and established contact with [[Franjo Tuđman]]. Sanader's organizational skills, erudition, and fluency in German left a favorable impression on HDZ members with whom he collaborated in Austria.{{sfn|Radoš|2015|pp=27–28}} He decided to return to Split, over the objections of his wife who saw war in Croatia looming. His first public office was [[intendant]] of the [[Croatian National Theatre in Split]]. Shortly after taking the office, he was joined by his wife, who got a job in the University Library in Split.{{sfn|Radoš|2015|pp=29–30}}
Sanader was also accused by Ivan Drmić, former member of Croatia Democratic Union, for
framing election for president on the 5th convention of Croatia Democratic Union. Spokesman for Croatia Democratic Union, Vlatko Maček, said such accusation belong in anthology of political dullness.


In 1992 he was elected as an HDZ deputy to the lower house of the Croatian parliament, and became [[Ministry of Science and Education (Croatia)|Minister of Science and Technology]] (1992–1993). From 1993 to 1995 and 1996 to 2000, he was a [[Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs (Croatia)|Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs]], overseeing the termination of required visas for Croatian citizens who traveled to [[Greece]]. He also used his negotiation skills to bring people to the Croatian Democratic Union from other Croatian parliamentary parties.{{citation needed|date=November 2012}}
In July 2006 Sanader was named in the “Verona Affair”, he was accused by opposition in Parliament of Croatia for fixing the sale of pharmaceutical company [[Pliva]] to [[Barr Pharmaceuticals|Barr Corporation]] from US. Such accusations against Sanader have been declined and they were never proven.


At the end of November 1995, he became [[President of Croatia#Office of the President|Chief of Staff of the President of Croatia's office]] and General Secretary of the Croatian National Security and Defense Council (VONS) after [[Hrvoje Šarinić]] and Goran Drozdek were released from their duties. In January 1996 he became a member of the Council for Cooperation between Croatia and the Republic of [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]].
== Relations with US ==
[[Image:Secretary Rice meets with His Excellency Ivo Sanader, Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia on October 17, 2006.jpg|thumb|With [[Condoleezza Rice|Secretary Rice]] in [[Washington DC]] on [[October 17]], [[2006]].]]
Government under Prime Minster Sanader has enhanced a relationship with [[US]], relations that were disturbed under previous Prime Minister Račan because of US call for not extradition of US soldiers to [[International Court of Justice]] if indicted. Under current Prime Minster US didn’t ask for such agreement from Croatia to be signed. The chairman of the US [[House International Relations Committee]] [[Henry Hyde]] has said, in very emotional appearance, that Croatian dream about joining [[NATO]] and [[EU]] will be fulfilled and that US government backs Croatia fully in their gold regarding NATO and EU. In October 2006 President Bush has said that Croatia will enter NATO and he has set 2008 year as year for Croatia membership in NATO. Croatia, under current Prime Minster, has improved relations with US. US recognize Croatia as only stable partner, on territory of ex [[SFR Yugoslavia]], and partner in [[war on terror]].<ref>http://www.vjesnik.hr/html/2004/03/15/Clanak.asp?r=van&c=6{{hr icon}}</ref><ref>http://www.state.gov/p/eur/rls/rm/74038.htm</ref><ref>http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/10/20061017-5.html</ref>


During his second term as Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs he worked to bring Croatia and [[Israel]] together. Himself, [[Hrvoje Šarinić]] and Eytan Bentsur,<ref>{{cite web|title=Eytan Bentsur|url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/Bentsur.html|work=[[Jewish Virtual Library]]|publisher=[[American–Israeli Cooperative Enterprise]]|access-date=22 November 2012}}</ref> Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Israeli government, met in [[Budapest]] in 1997, at which point diplomatic relations between Croatia and Israel were established.<ref>[http://www.vlada.hr/english/premijer/predsjednik_vlade_ivo_sanader Prime Minister Ivo Sanader profile] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071102172745/http://www.vlada.hr/english/premijer/predsjednik_vlade_ivo_sanader |date=2 November 2007 }}, vlada.hr; accessed 28 April 2015.{{in lang|hr}}</ref>
== Other ==
Sanader was the last [[statesman]] to visit [[Pope]] [[Pope John Paul II|John Paul II]] in the [[Vatican City|Vatican]], in February [[2005]], a few weeks before his death.


===Leader of Opposition (2000–03)===
==Notes==
In 2000, following Tuđman's death, HDZ suffered defeat in a [[2000 Croatian parliamentary election|parliamentary election]]. Furthermore, their candidate [[Mate Granić]] also failed to enter the second round of the presidential election. Granić then left to form the [[Democratic Centre (Croatia)|Democratic Centre]] party hoping to attract moderates from the HDZ. Inner-party election within the HDZ ensued in April that year and Sanader emerged victorious as a compromise candidate.
{{reflist}}


Initially, Sanader criticized the unpopular [[International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia]] (ICTY) indictments against Croatian Army generals. In 2001, he took part in a massive rally protesting a war crimes indictment against general [[Mirko Norac]].<ref name="VL"/> Sanader also criticised [[Ivica Račan]] and his cabinet's stance towards the ICTY. He gradually began to distance the party and himself from the protests, softening his criticism towards the government.
==External links==
===Official websites===
* [http://www.vlada.hr/en// The Office of the Prime Minister]


Sanader focused his efforts on transforming the HDZ into a modern pro-European right-of-center party. However, his course was challenged by the more conservative wing of the party led by [[Ivić Pašalić]]. The ensuing leadership struggle culminated at the 2002 party convention. Sanader, who was supported by [[Vladimir Šeks]] and [[Branimir Glavaš]], managed to win his second mandate. Pašalić left the party to form his [[Croatian Bloc (political party)|Croatian Bloc]], but failed to draw many of his former supporters from the HDZ.
* [http://www.vlada.hr/english/premijer// Prime Minister]


Sanader was later accused by Ivan Drmić, a former member of the Croatian Democratic Union, for rigging the presidential election at the 5th convention of the Croatian Democratic Union.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nacional.hr/clanak/29325/drmic-krao-sam-glasove-za-sanadera |title=Drmić: Krao sam glasove za Sanadera |date=23 November 2006 |work=[[Nacional (weekly)|Nacional]] |first=Stjepan |last=Marković |language=hr |access-date=9 October 2009 |trans-title=Drmić: I stole votes on behalf of Sanader |archive-date=13 June 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613170423/http://www.nacional.hr/clanak/29325/drmic-krao-sam-glasove-za-sanadera }}</ref> Spokesman for the Croatian Democratic Union Ratko Maček said such accusations "belong in the anthology of political stupidity."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vjesnik.hr/Pdf/2006%5C11%5C24%5C04A4.PDF|title=Maček: Drmićev istup ulazi u antologiju političke gluposti|date=24 November 2006|work=[[Vjesnik]]|language=hr|access-date=9 October 2009}}{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
{{start box}}

Sanader was able to concentrate on defeating [[Ivica Račan]] and his left-of-centre coalition at the [[2003 Croatian parliamentary election|2003 parliamentary elections]]. HDZ won the election, but did not win an absolute majority in [[Sabor]].{{citation needed|date=April 2015}}

===Prime Minister (2003–2009)===
====First term (2003–2008)====
[[File:Ivo Sanader.jpg|thumb|200px|Sanader in 2005]]

After the victory of his Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) the President of the Republic named Sanader the Prime Minister-designate on 9 December 2003. In the post-election negotiations Sanader ensured the support of ethnic minority representatives, nominally left-wing [[Croatian Party of Pensioners]] and the [[Independent Democratic Serb Party]]. When the Croatian Parliament subsequently gave its consent by 88 votes (out of 152) on 23 December 2003, Sanader was formally appointed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hidran.hidra.hr/hidrarad/rh/rh69.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710064634/http://hidran.hidra.hr/hidrarad/rh/rh69.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 July 2012 |language=hr |title=Deveta vlada |publisher=Croatian Information-Documentation Referral Agency |access-date=10 December 2010 }}</ref>

The Sanader government's main foreign goal was Croatia's entry into the [[European Union]] and [[NATO]]. As a result of the successful implementation of the Association Agreement – signed with the European Union in 2001 – Croatia did become an official candidate for entry into the EU. Sanader's HDZ also sought to establish better relations with minority parties and 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 the country's compliance with political and economic criteria established by the 1993 Copenhagen European Council.{{citation needed|date=April 2015}}

Sanader was the last [[politician|statesman]] to visit [[Pope John Paul II]] in Vatican City, in February 2005, a few weeks before his death on 2 April 2005.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-18869296_ITM|work=The America's Intelligence Wire|title=Croatian prime minister asks Vatican for help in pushing for EU membership talks|date=22 February 2005}}</ref>

In October 2005, following the formal start of [[Accession of Croatia to the European Union|EU accession negotiations]], opinion polls showed Sanader to be the most popular Croatian politician.<ref>{{cite web|title=Croatian prime minister resigns|url=http://euobserver.com/enlargement/28402|work=News Article BBC|date=July 2009 |publisher=EU Observer|access-date=22 November 2012}}</ref>

[[File:I. Sanader with G.W. Bush.jpg|thumb|left|Sanader in a meeting with U.S. President [[George W. Bush]] at the [[White House]], 17 October 2006]]

Škare Ožbolt reported that Sanader possessed a collection of [[watch|wrist watches]] worth in excess of €150,000 which he had not declared as assets.<ref name="Nacional20070109">{{cite web |url=http://www.nacional.hr/en/clanak/30495/all-the-premiers-watches |title=All the Premier's watches |first=Marko |last=Ćustić |date=9 January 2007 |work=[[Nacional (weekly)|Nacional]] |access-date=9 October 2009 |archive-date=8 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110808202353/http://www.nacional.hr/en/clanak/30495/all-the-premiers-watches }}</ref> Former Minister of Justice [[Vesna Škare-Ožbolt]] in the Sanader government was the one who reported Sanader to a resolution council for conflict of interests.<ref name="Nacional20070109"/>

As Prime Minister, Sanader had close relations with other moderate conservative politicians in Europe: including former Austrian [[Chancellor]] [[Wolfgang Schüssel]], former [[Bavaria]]n Prime Minister [[Edmund Stoiber]], [[Chancellor of Germany (Federal Republic)|Chancellor of Germany]] [[Angela Merkel]], and Irish [[Taoiseach|prime minister]] [[Bertie Ahern]]. The cabinet saw some changes during Sanader's term, notably the departure of the foreign minister [[Miomir Žužul]] who was accused of conflict of interest. His government was challenged by the rising tide of [[Euroscepticism]] in the country.{{citation needed|date=April 2015}}

In July 2006, Sanader was named in the "Verona Affair", accused by the opposition in the Croatian parliament for fixing the sale of pharmaceutical company [[Pliva]] to [[Barr Pharmaceuticals]] from the US.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.index.hr/vijesti/clanak/zasto-je-sanaderu-put-u-veronu-bio-vazniji-od-proslave-dana-drzavnosti-u-vukovaru/326362.aspx|title=Zašto je Sanaderu put u Veronu bio važniji od proslave Dana državnosti u Vukovaru?|work=[[Index.hr]]|date=5 September 2006|first=Neven|last=Barković|language=hr|access-date=9 October 2009}}</ref> The accusations were denied and never proved.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vlada.hr/hrvatski/naslovnica/novosti_i_najave/2006/rujan/premijer_sanader_u_veronu_sam_isao_na_poziv_organizatora|title=Premijer Sanader: U Veronu sam išao na poziv organizatora|date=27 September 2006|publisher=[[Croatian Government]]|language=hr|access-date=9 October 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927013801/http://www.vlada.hr/hrvatski/naslovnica/novosti_i_najave/2006/rujan/premijer_sanader_u_veronu_sam_isao_na_poziv_organizatora|archive-date=27 September 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
[[File:Flickr - europeanpeoplesparty - EPP Summit 24 March 2007 (20)-2.jpg|thumb|Sanader with [[Angela Merkel]] and [[Jyrki Katainen]], at an [[European People's Party|EPP]] summit in 24 March 2007]]
''[[Nacional (weekly)|Nacional]]'', an independent political weekly, reported Sanader was a part of two bankrupt businesses in Austria, and received bribes in 1995 and 1996 from a tycoon amounting to 800,000 [[Deutsche Mark|DEM]].<ref name="Nacional 583"/>

====Second term (2008–2009)====
[[File:Svecanost podizanja NATOve zastave Zagreb 60.jpg|thumb|Speaker of the Croatian Parliament [[Luka Bebić]] (left) and Croatian President [[Stjepan Mesić]] alongside Sanader at a [[NATO]] flag-raising ceremony, following [[Croatia–NATO relations|Croatia's accession to NATO]], 7 April 2009]]

After the closely contested [[2007 Croatian parliamentary election|2007 parliamentary election]], and the first ever situation of ambiguity on who gets the mandate to form a government, Sanader emerged as the winner when President [[Stjepan Mesić]] gave him his second mandate, though this time in a coalition with the [[Croatian Peasant Party|HSS]] and the [[Croatian Social Liberal Party|HSLS]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.vjesnik.hr/html/2007/12/17/Clanak.asp?r=unu&c=1|archive-url=https://archive.today/20071113054342/http://www.vjesnik.hr/html/2007/12/17/Clanak.asp?r=unu&c=1|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 November 2007|language=hr|title=A sada koalicijski sporazum i sastavljanje vlade|newspaper=[[Vjesnik]]|date=17 December 2007|access-date=10 December 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://hidran.hidra.hr/hidrarad/rh/rh610.htm|language=hr|title=Deseta vlada|publisher=Croatian Information-Documentation Referral Agency|access-date=10 December 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710133347/http://hidran.hidra.hr/hidrarad/rh/rh610.htm|archive-date=10 July 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Owing in part to the global recession that set in during Sanader's term, Croatia's economic growth stalled and foreign direct investments slowed down. While displaying symptoms of economic decline shared by larger nations, Croatia's decline during Sanader's term was amplified in comparison with the fortunes of Serbia and next door Montenegro – who gained greater investments due to major reforms. Under Sanader, judicial reforms in Croatia stopped and the land registry issue was not resolved. Over 1.3 million court cases (in a country of 4.1 million people) were yet to be resolved in 2009.{{dubious|1=Judicial reforms|date=December 2014}}

Croatia was expected to complete negotiations with the EU in 2009. However, the negotiations were stalled for 10 months due to [[Slovenia's blockade of Croatia's EU accession]] in December 2008. On 1 July 2009, Sanader announced his resignation as the Prime Minister and Leader of the HDZ, as well as his complete withdrawal from all active politics, adding that he does not intend to return.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jutarnji.hr/vijesti/clanak/art-2009,7,1,,168101.jl|title=Sanader dao ostavku na mjesto premijera i predsjednika stranke|date=1 July 2009|work=[[Jutarnji list]]|language=hr|access-date=28 April 2015|archive-date=18 September 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090918232414/http://www.jutarnji.hr/vijesti/clanak/art-2009,7,1,,168101.jl|url-status=dead}}</ref> At his press conference in Zagreb, Sanader remarked: "There is always a time in life for a new beginning. Such a moment has come and now it is time for others to take over."<ref name="Reuters">{{cite news|last=Ilic|first=Igor|title=Croatia's PM Sanader resigns, quits politics|url=http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-40733720090701|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090705120223/http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-40733720090701|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 July 2009|work=[[Reuters]]|date=1 July 2009|access-date=2009-07-01}}</ref> According to [[BBC News]], the announcement "came as a surprise", as Croatian media had quite recently named Sanader as a potential candidate for the [[2009–10 Croatian presidential election|2010 presidential election]].<ref name="BBC">{{cite news|title=Croatia's PM Sanader steps down|work=[[BBC News]]|date=1 July 2009|access-date=28 April 2015|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8128746.stm}}</ref> He announced that his prime minister-designate would be deputy Prime Minister [[Jadranka Kosor]].<ref name="Reuters"/><ref name="BBC"/>

The [[Croatian Parliament]] accepted his resignation on 2 July 2009 and informed the President. Sanader was elected Honorary President of the HDZ for life.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}}

===Departure and return to politics (2009–2010)===
[[File:Pm sanader receives bosnian presidency member.jpg|thumb|Sanader with Bosnian Presidency Chairman [[Haris Silajdžić]], 27 May 2010]]

At the September 2009 Global Creative Economic Summit, Sanader discussed Croatia's shift from a heavily controlled economy to a bustling "knowledge-based" economy. According to Sanader, fostering the "competitiveness in everyday life" played an important role in this process.<ref>[http://www.creativeleadershipsummit.org/?q=node/776 A Celebration of Innovation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120219205856/http://www.creativeleadershipsummit.org/?q=node%2F776 |date=19 February 2012 }} 2009 Global Creative Leadership Summit.</ref>

On 3 January 2010, contrary to his earlier statements (1 July 2009), Sanader announced he would be returning to a more active role in politics, stating that his decision to withdraw was a mistake, and that the HDZ is a "winning party and not a party that wins 12% of the vote", a remark made in connection with the first round of the [[Croatian presidential election, 2009–2010|presidential election]] held one week before.<ref name=Povratak>{{cite web|url=http://www.vecernji.hr/vijesti/sanader-odluka-da-se-povucem-aktivne-politike-bila-je-pogreska-clanak-74610|title=Sanader: Odluka da se povučem iz aktivne politike bila je pogreška|date=3 January 2010|work=[[Vecernji list]]|language=hr|access-date=28 April 2015}}</ref> He was supported by a dozen HDZ MPs, including [[Luka Bebić]], but none of the members of the Government. Several of those MPs later disclaimed any association with Sanader and claimed they were misled.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jutarnji.hr/hdz-sastanci-bez-bebica---sanadera-se-izbacuje-iz-stranke/453159|title=Predsjedništvo HDZ-a izbacilo Sanadera iz stranke!|language=hr|date=4 January 2010|work=[[Jutarnji list]]|access-date=28 April 2015|archive-date=22 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160422084937/http://www.jutarnji.hr/hdz-sastanci-bez-bebica---sanadera-se-izbacuje-iz-stranke/453159/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On 4 January 2010, following an entire day of meetings of HDZ leadership, Ivo Sanader was expelled from the Croatian Democratic Union. Of 22 members of the party presidency, 16 voted for expulsion, three were against ([[Luka Bebić]], Mario Zubović and [[Damir Polančec]]) and two abstained (Bianca Matković and Petar Selem). Sanader himself was not present at the meeting.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.index.hr/vijesti/clanak/kosor-potvrdila-sanader-izbrisan-iz-hdza/468350.aspx|title=Kosor potvrdila: Sanader izbrisan iz HDZ-a!|language=hr|date=3 January 2010|work=Index.hr}}</ref>

In October 2010, Sanader reactivated his parliamentary seat and regained parliamentary immunity.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.vecernji.hr/vijesti/sanader-situacija-me-natjerala-da-aktiviram-saborski-mandat-clanak-206123|newspaper=[[Večernji list]]|language=hr|title=Sanader: Situacija me natjerala da aktiviram saborski mandat|date=21 October 2010}}</ref>

===Arrest in Austria===
On 9 December 2010, he was spotted crossing the border into [[Slovenia]], driven by his younger daughter Bruna<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.index.hr/vijesti/clanak/sanader-odazvat-cu-se-pozivu-uskoka-bruna-sanader-se-vratila-u-zagreb/527735.aspx|title=Odazvat ću se pozivu Uskoka, Bruna Sanader se vratila u Zagreb|work=index.hr|date=12 December 2010}}</ref> shortly before the [[Croatian parliament]] voted to remove his immunity from prosecution by the Croatian Bureau for Combating Corruption and Organized Crime ([[USKOK]]). The next day the Croatian police issued an arrest warrant<ref>[http://mup.hr/79554/3.aspx Arrest warrant for Ivo Sanader] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101214051236/http://www.mup.hr/79554/3.aspx |date=14 December 2010 }}, [[Ministry of Internal Affairs (Croatia)|Ministry of Internal Affairs]]</ref> and applied to [[Interpol]] requesting his arrest to face charges of corruption.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11967575|title=Croatia issues warrant for arrest of ex-PM Sanader|work=BBC News|date=10 December 2010}}</ref> He was arrested near [[Salzburg, Austria]] on 10 December 2010.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11969520 Croatian ex-PM Ivo Sanader arrested in Austria], [[BBC News]]; accessed 28 April 2015.</ref> Croatian authorities froze his assets and bank accounts, and formally applied for extradition on 13 December.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2010/12/14/feature-02|title=Croatia's Sanader awaiting extradition in Salzburg prison|date=14 December 2010|access-date=28 April 2015}}</ref>

Austrian authorities, including a Carinthian parliamentary committee inquiring into the more recent [[Hypo Alpe-Adria-Bank International]] scandal, have questioned Sanader while in custody,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.croatiantimes.com/news/General_News/2011-02-03/16921/Hypo_may_have_paid_Sanader_for_loan_deals|title=Hypo may have paid Sanader for loan deals|publisher=Croatiantimes.com|access-date=21 November 2012|archive-date=16 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316214256/http://www.croatiantimes.com/news/General_News/2011-02-03/16921/Hypo_may_have_paid_Sanader_for_loan_deals|url-status=dead}}</ref> while [[USKOK]] expanded its investigation of Sanader to include alleged bribes by the Hypo Bank in the 1990s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/croatia-s-sanader-faces-new-corruption-probe|title=Croatia's Sanader Faces New Corruption Probe|date=4 March 2011|publisher=Balkan Insight|access-date=21 November 2012}}</ref>

Sanader is alleged to have received nearly $695,000 (£432,000) for arranging a loan from the Austrian Hypo Bank in 1995,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15574134|title=Croatia ex-PM Ivo Sanader denies corruption at trial|work=BBC News|date=3 November 2011}}</ref> launching accusations of war profiteering,<ref name="SanaderTrial">{{cite web|url=http://daily.tportal.hr/164081/Prosecution-witness-testifies-in-Sanader-trial.html|title=Prosecution witness testifies in Sanader trial|publisher=Daily TPortal|date=8 December 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121127210325/http://daily.tportal.hr/164081/Prosecution-witness-testifies-in-Sanader-trial.html|archive-date=27 November 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref> and of receiving 10 million euros in bribes from the CEO of the Hungarian oil company [[MOL Group|MOL]], [[Zsolt Hernádi]], to secure MOL a dominant position in the Croatian oil company INA.<ref name="SanaderTrial"/>

===Extradition, trials and imprisonment (2011–present)===
Sanader was extradited by Austria on 18 July 2011.<ref name="extradited">{{cite news|title=Ex-PM Sanader back in Croatia|url=http://www.croatiantimes.com/news/General_News/2011-07-19/20638/Ex-PM_Sanader_back_in_Croatia|work=Croatian Times|date=19 July 2011|access-date=19 July 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005190141/http://www.croatiantimes.com/news/General_News/2011-07-19/20638/Ex-PM_Sanader_back_in_Croatia|archive-date=5 October 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref> He was transferred to [[Remetinec prison]] in [[Zagreb]].<ref name="extradited"/><ref>{{cite news|title=Austria extradites Sanader|url=http://austrianindependent.com/news/Politics/2011-07-19/8464/Austria_extradites_Sanader|work=Austrian Independent|date=19 July 2011|access-date=19 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110824015206/http://austrianindependent.com/news/Politics/2011-07-19/8464/Austria_extradites_Sanader|archive-date=24 August 2011|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

At his first court hearing on 28 October, he complained of heart problems, and he stated that he did not even know he was being taken to court. After hearing this, the judge decided to reschedule, and Sanader was taken to the hospital. His rescheduled court hearing took place in December 2011 and he was released on bail of $2.2 million on 16 December 2011.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/croatia-sanader-idUSL6E7NG2PE20111216|title=Croatia's former PM Sanader released on bail|author=Staff|work=Reuters|date=16 December 2011}}</ref> In January 2012, it was announced that Sanader was facing a new set of corruption charges. [[USKOK]] included Sanader in its investigation into Croatia's state-owned electric company HEP's financial irregularities, including losses of $100 million, based on a witness statement that Sanader accepted a bribe to ensure lower electricity prices.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reportingproject.net/occrp/index.php/ccwatch/cc-watch-briefs/1309-new-corruption-charges-against-former-croatian-pm|title=New Corruption Charges Against Former Croatian PM|publisher=OCCRP|date=24 January 2012}}</ref>

In May 2012, it was announced that Sanader could be indicted again on corruption offences. It was alleged that he could be charged for his involvement in arranging the sale of electricity to Croatian petrochemical company Dioki Group at prices below market, which damaged the state electricity company HEP by several million Kunas. The former CEO and owner of Dioki, Ivan Mravak and Robert Jezic could also face charges.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.croatiantimes.com/news/General_News/2012-05-06/26881/Ex_PM_Sanader_faces_another_indictment|title=Ex PM Sanader faces another indictment|author=Croatian Times|publisher=Croatian Times|date=6 May 2012|access-date=11 May 2012|archive-date=9 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509023637/http://www.croatiantimes.com/news/General_News/2012-05-06/26881/Ex_PM_Sanader_faces_another_indictment|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In September 2012, A fifth indictment was filed against Ivo Sanader for damaging the state budget by 26 million kuna (3.6 million euro). Prosecutors claimed that the damage was done by selling a building built by Fiolic's firm to the Ministry of Regional Development for more than twice the price that the building was actually worth.<ref>{{cite web|author=Boris Pavelic|url=http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/fifth-indictment-against-sanader-filed|title=Fifth Indictment Filed Against Former Croatian PM|date=3 September 2012|publisher=Balkan Insight|access-date=21 November 2012}}</ref>

According to calculations of Croatian news site Politika Plus from 2012, total damage done to the budget due to corruption scandals involving Sanader counts at least 207 million kuna.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.politikaplus.com/novost/63227/SVE-SANADEROVE-AFERE-Tereti-ga-se-da-je-drzavu-ostetio-za-vise-od-200-milijuna-kuna|title=SVE SANADEROVE AFERE Tereti ga se da je državu oštetio za više od 200 milijuna kuna!|work=politikaplus.com|access-date=2018-01-09|language=en}}</ref> He was indicted five times in total; in Fimi Media, Planinska, INA-MOL, Hypo and HEP cases.

On 20 November 2012, Sanader was sentenced to 10 years in prison in a first-degree verdict for Hypo and INA-MOL cases. He was the highest official in Croatia to be convicted of corruption.<ref>{{cite news|title=Croatia jails ex-PM Ivo Sanader for taking bribes|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-20407006|publisher=BBC|date=20 November 2012|access-date=20 November 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Sanaderu deset godina, stigao u remetinečki zatvor!|url=http://www.vecernji.hr/vijesti/sanaderu-deset-godina-stigao-remetinecki-zatvor-clanak-477315|last=Škiljić-Ravenšćak|first=Ana|newspaper=[[Večernji list]]|date=20 November 2012|language=hr|access-date=20 November 2012}}</ref> Sanader denied wrongdoing and stated that his trial was politically motivated.<ref>{{cite news|title=Croatia jails ex-PM Ivo Sanader for taking bribes|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/nov/20/croatia-jails-ivo-sanader-bribes|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=20 November 2012|access-date=20 November 2012}}</ref> The judge, Ivan Turudić, said that Sanader had disgraced Croatia, adding that he had used his office for his own personal enrichment and not for the common good. Sanader was transferred from the court to the Remetinec prison.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}}

In June 2014, the [[Supreme Court of Croatia]] confirmed the 2012 verdict, but reduced Sanader's prison sentence to {{frac|8|1|2}} years.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/croatia-supreme-court-confirms-guilty-verdict-but-reduces-ex-pm-sanaders-corruption-sentence/|title=Croatia Supreme court confirms guilty verdict but reduces ex-PM Sanader's corruption sentence|date=13 June 2014|work=[[Fox News]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924185754/http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/06/13/croatia-supreme-court-confirms-guilty-verdict-but-reduces-ex-pm-sanader/ |access-date=15 June 2014|url-status=live|archive-date=24 September 2015 }}</ref> On that occasion, president [[Ivo Josipović]] described Sanader's involvement in MOL's acquisition of INA as "high treason".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rtl.hr/vijesti/novosti/1218195/cijelu-pricu-mogu-okarakterizirati-samo-jednom-rjecju-a-to-je-veleizdaja/|title=Cijelu priču mogu okarakterizirati samo jednom rječju, a to je veleizdaja|date=14 June 2014|work=rtl.hr|publisher=[[RTL Televizija]]|language=hr|access-date=20 October 2014}}</ref> In 2015, the verdict was quashed by the Constitutional Court based on procedural errors made during the trial. After spending nearly 5 years both in custody and prison, he was released and set to stand a [[retrial]].

In 2017, he was sentenced to {{frac|4|1|2}} years in Planinska case. In April 2019, this conviction was confirmed by Supreme Court and sentence raised to 6 years. Since then, Sanader has been incarcerated.

In 2020, he was convicted and sentenced to an additional sentence of 8 years in prison as the result of retrial in the Fimi Media case.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://balkaninsight.com/2020/11/13/croatian-ex-premier-sanader-convicted-in-slush-fund-case-retrial/|title = Croatian Ex-Premier Sanader Convicted in Slush Fund Case Retrial|date = 13 November 2020}}</ref> That same year, he was convicted and sentenced to an additional sentence of 6 years in prison for the INA-MOL case. Both of these verdicts were confirmed by the Supreme Court in 2021, with the sentence in the Fimi Media case having been reduced to 7 years. His acquittal in the HEP case was confirmed that same year.

In 2022, he was acquitted in Hypo case, but that has yet to be confirmed by the Supreme Court. In 2023, his sentences stemming from the three convictions were merged into one single sentence totaling 18 years and 8 months, and later reduced to 18 years by the Supreme Court.

As of 2024, he is serving his sentence at Lipovica prison<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jutarnji.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/sanader-prepracen-u-zatvor-bivsi-hrvatski-premijer-doveden-u-remetinec-na-odsluzenje-kazne-u-trajanju-od-sest-godina-8692406|title = Jutarnji list - SANADER PREPRAĆEN U ZATVOR Bivši hrvatski premijer doveden u Remetinec na odsluženje kazne u trajanju od šest godina|date = 4 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.24sata.hr/news/zatvor-u-remetincu-je-prepun-ali-joisp-klemm-je-u-celiji-sam-745328|title=Zatvor u Remetincu je prepun, ali Josip Klemm je u ćeliji sam}}</ref> and cannot be released before 2033.

==Honors==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;"
|-
! colspan=2 | Award or decoration !! Country !! Awarded by !! Date !! Place
|-
| [[File:Army-HRV-OF-05.svg|center|50px]] || Honorary [[Colonel]] of [[Military of Croatia|Armed Forces of Croatia]] || {{flag|Croatia}} || [[Franjo Tuđman]] || 1993 || [[Zagreb]]
|-
| [[File:DE-BY Der Bayerische Verdienstorden BAR.png|80px]] || [[Bavarian Order of Merit]] || {{flag|Germany}} || [[Edmund Stoiber]] || 2007 || [[Munich]]<ref name="VL"/>
|}

===Revoked===
On 15 July 2014, President [[Ivo Josipović]] revoked all of Sanader's national decorations following the final judgment by the [[Supreme Court of Croatia|Supreme Court]] by which he was sentenced to imprisonment for a term of 8 years and 6 months due to his corruption while he served as Prime Minister.<ref name=NN1>[http://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2014_07_84_1660.html Odluka o oduzimanju odlikovanja Ivi (Jakovljevu) Sanaderu]. Narodne novine; retrieved 5 December 2016. {{in lang|hr}}</ref>
* [[File:Ribbon of the Order of Duke Trpimir.png|80px]] [[Order of Duke Trpimir]]
* [[File:Ribbon of a Grand Order of Queen Jelena.png|80px]] [[Grand Order of Queen Jelena]]
* [[File:Ribbon of an Order of the Croatian Trefoil.png|80px]] [[Order of the Croatian Trefoil]]
* [[File:Ribbon of a Commemorative Medal of the Homeland's Gratitude.png|80px]] [[Homeland's Gratitude Medal]]
* [[File:Ribbon of an Order of Ante Starčević.png|80px]] [[Order of Ante Starčević]]
* [[File:Ribbon of an Order of Danica Hrvatska with the face of Marko Marulić.png|80px]] [[Order of Danica Hrvatska]] ''with the face of Marko Marulić''

==See also==
* [[Cabinet of Ivo Sanader I]]
* [[Cabinet of Ivo Sanader II]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book|url=http://media.vecernji-list.hr/pdf/uzewrt637r34/Uspon%20i%20pad%20Sanadera.pdf|title=Uspon i pad Sanadera|last=Radoš|first=Ivica|year=2015|publisher=[[Večernji list]]|language=hr|access-date=21 December 2020|archive-date=13 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220113014113/http://media.vecernji-list.hr/pdf/uzewrt637r34/Uspon%20i%20pad%20Sanadera.pdf|url-status=dead}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.cidob.org/es/documentacion/biografias_lideres_politicos/europa/croacia/ivo_sanader Ivo Sanader biography] at [[CIDOB Foundation|CIDOB]] {{in lang|es}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Jure Radić (engineer)|Jure Radić]]}}
{{succession box |
{{s-ttl|title=[[Ministry of Science, Education and Sports (Croatia)|Minister of Science and Technology]]|years=1992–1993}}
title=Minister of science |
{{s-aft|after=[[Branko Jeren]]}}
before=[[Jure Radić]] |
|-
after=[[Branko Jeren]] |
{{s-bef|before=[[Ivica Račan]]}}
years=[[17 July]][[1991]]-[[7 January]] [[1993]]
{{s-ttl|title=[[Prime Minister of Croatia]]|years=2003–2009}}
}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Jadranka Kosor]]}}
{{succession box |
|-
title=[[Prime Minister of Croatia]] |
before=[[Ivica Račan]] |
after=''incumbent'' |
years=[[23 December]] [[2003]]-present
}}
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Vladimir Šeks]]<br /><small>Acting</small>}}
{{succession box |
title=President of [[Croatian Democratic Union]] |
{{s-ttl|title={{0}}President of the [[Croatian Democratic Union]]{{0}}|years=2000–2009}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Jadranka Kosor]]}}
before=[[Vladimir Šeks]] (acting) |
{{s-end}}
after=''incumbent'' |
years=[[30 April]] [[2000]]-present
}}
{{end box}}


{{Croatian Prime Minister}}
{{Croatian Prime Minister}}
{{Science Ministers of Croatia}}
{{HDZ President}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Sanader, Ivo}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sanader, Ivo}}
[[Category:1953 births]]
[[Category:1953 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic politicians]]
[[Category:Croatian Democratic Union politicians]]
[[Category:Croatian Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:Government ministers of Croatia]]
[[Category:Croatian politicians]]
[[Category:Prime ministers of Croatia]]
[[Category:People from Split]]
[[Category:Order of Duke Trpimir recipients]]
[[Category:Prime Ministers of Croatia]]
[[Category:Politicians from Split, Croatia]]
[[Category:University of Innsbruck alumni]]

[[Category:Croatian prisoners and detainees]]
[[bs:Ivo Sanader]]
[[Category:Prisoners and detainees of Yugoslavia]]
[[bg:Иво Санадер]]
[[Category:People extradited from Austria]]
[[de:Ivo Sanader]]
[[Category:People extradited to Croatia]]
[[el:Ίβο Σαναντέρ]]
[[Category:Croatian politicians convicted of corruption]]
[[es:Ivo Sanader]]
[[Category:Heads of government who were later imprisoned]]
[[fr:Ivo Sanader]]
[[Category:Modern history of Croatia]]
[[gl:Ivo Sanader]]
[[Category:Corruption in Croatia]]
[[hr:Ivo Sanader]]
[[id:Ivo Sanader]]
[[it:Ivo Sanader]]
[[he:איבו סאנאדר]]
[[nl:Ivo Sanader]]
[[ja:イーヴォ・サナデル]]
[[nn:Ivo Sanader]]
[[pl:Ivo Sanader]]
[[pt:Ivo Sanader]]
[[ro:Ivo Sanader]]
[[ru:Санадер, Иво]]
[[sr:Иво Санадер]]
[[sh:Ivo Sanader]]
[[fi:Ivo Sanader]]
[[sv:Ivo Sanader]]
[[tr:Ivo Sanader]]
[[uk:Іво Санадер]]
[[zh:伊沃·薩納德爾]]

Latest revision as of 01:55, 10 November 2024

Ivo Sanader
Sanader in 2009
Prime Minister of Croatia
In office
23 December 2003 – 6 July 2009
PresidentStjepan Mesić
Deputy
Preceded byIvica Račan
Succeeded byJadranka Kosor
Minister of Science and Technology
In office
12 August 1992 – 7 January 1993
Preceded byJure Radić
Succeeded byBranko Jeren
Further offices held
Leader of the Opposition
In office
30 April 2000 – 23 December 2003
Preceded byIvica Račan
Vladimir Šeks (Acting)
Succeeded byIvica Račan
President of the Croatian Democratic Union
In office
30 April 2000 – 4 July 2009
Preceded byFranjo Tuđman
Vladimir Šeks (Acting)
Succeeded byJadranka Kosor
Member of the Croatian Parliament
for 10th electoral district
In office
13 October 2010 – 22 December 2011
In office
2 February 2000 – 22 December 2003
Chief of Staff of the Office of the President of Croatia
In office
24 November 1995 – 5 November 1996
PresidentFranjo Tuđman
Preceded byHrvoje Šarinić
Succeeded byHrvoje Šarinić
Personal details
Born (1953-06-08) 8 June 1953 (age 71)
Split, PR Croatia, FPR Yugoslavia
Political partyCroatian Democratic Union (1989–2010)
Spouse
Mirjana Šarić
(m. 1978)
[1]
Children2
Alma materUniversity of Innsbruck
Occupation
  • Writer
  • historian
  • politician

Ivo Sanader (Croatian pronunciation: [ǐːʋo sanǎːder]; born 8 June 1953) is a Croatian former politician who served as Prime Minister of Croatia from 2003 to 2009. He is currently serving a 18-year prison sentence for corruption in Lipovica prison.

Sanader is to date the second longest-serving prime minister since Croatia's independence, holding the office for over five and a half years before resigning in July 2009. He is one of only two Croatian prime ministers (along with Andrej Plenković) who have served more than one term, winning the general elections in 2003 and 2007. He is also, along with Ivica Račan and Plenković, one of the three prime ministers who have been at the head of more than one government cabinet, chairing his first cabinet from 23 December 2003 until 12 January 2008, and his second cabinet from 12 January 2008 until his resignation on 6 July 2009.

Sanader obtained his education in comparative literature in Austria, where he also worked as a journalist, in marketing, publishing, and as an entrepreneur. In the 1990s, he was briefly the intendant of the Croatian National Theatre in Split before becoming Minister for Science and Technology as a member of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) in the cabinet of Hrvoje Šarinić in 1992. In 1993, he moved into diplomacy and served two terms as Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Following the death of Franjo Tuđman, Sanader was elected president of the HDZ in 2000, and again in 2002, and led the party to victory in the 2003, and 2007 elections, becoming Croatia's Prime Minister. In June 2009, he abruptly resigned his post, leaving scarce explanation for his actions and disappearing from public life for a while. In January 2010, he tried to stage a political comeback within the HDZ, but was ejected from party membership.

In December 2010, Croatian authorities indicted Sanader in two high-profile corruption cases. He fled the country but was apprehended in Austria and extradited to Croatia in July 2011. In November 2012, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison in a first instance verdict, later reduced to 8+12 years, for funneling 10.4 million euros in public money to the Fimi Media company. However, his sentence was annulled by Croatia's Constitutional Court in 2015. With the exception of numerous Croatian officials who were sentenced to imprisonment during the existence of the socialist Yugoslavia, he is the first Croatian head of government and highest ranking state official to be tried and sentenced to a jail term. In October 2018, Sanader was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for war profiteering and ordered to return $570,000 in kickbacks from Hypo Bank. In November 2020, he was sentenced to eight years in jail for his role in a retrial of the Fimi Media case.[2] Some Croatian journalists evaluate Sanader's leadership of Croatia as a "kleptocratic-clientelistic era".[3]

Early life

[edit]

Sanader was born in Split to a poor, religious, working-class family originating from Dugobabe, a village in the Split hinterland.[4] He was one of five children so, as his family was financially unable to support their education, his mother asked the rector of the Archbishopric Classical Gymnasium to accept Ivo as a student. At the gymnasium, Sanader distinguished himself as one of the top students, excelling in history and languages.[5] After completing high school, Sanader spent one year in Rome studying philosophy.[6][7] Following his return from Rome he met Mirjana Šarić, whom he married in 1978.[8][9]

After their wedding, Ivo and Mirjana, and Ivo's younger brother Miro left Split for Innsbruck, Austria. His wife studied archaeology, while Ivo studied comparative literature and Romance languages at the University of Innsbruck. During that time, Sanader worked as a correspondent for the Zagreb sport newspaper Sportske novosti.[10]

In 1982, Sanader received his PhD degree, and returned to Croatia (then Yugoslavia) with his wife. He found a job in the marketing department of Dalmacijaturist (Dalmatia Tourist), for a brief period, followed by a lengthy period at the publishing house Logos from 1983, initially as a program editor. In 1988 he became a chief editor, at one time working on the magazine Mogućnosti (Possibilities). His career at the publishing house was later terminated.[clarification needed] At that time, his wife also received a notice of termination from her workplace.[citation needed]

In 1987, Sanader decided to return to Austria with his family,[11] where he co-founded two businesses, one in 1989 which was liquidated by a court in 1992, while the other existed between 1986 and 2001.[12] Failure of his businesses prompted Sanader to enter politics in the 1990s.[13]

Apart from his native Croatian, he is fluent in English, German, French, and Italian.[8][14]

Political career

[edit]

Beginnings (1990s–2000)

[edit]

Unlike many Croatian political figures of Sanader's generation, he was not actively involved in politics in his younger years – neither as a member of the League of Communists of Croatia (Croatia's party which formed the single bloc which governed Yugoslavia), nor as a dissident in exile.

In October 1990, after multi-party system had returned to Yugoslavia, he founded the Tirol branch of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) in Austria, and established contact with Franjo Tuđman. Sanader's organizational skills, erudition, and fluency in German left a favorable impression on HDZ members with whom he collaborated in Austria.[15] He decided to return to Split, over the objections of his wife who saw war in Croatia looming. His first public office was intendant of the Croatian National Theatre in Split. Shortly after taking the office, he was joined by his wife, who got a job in the University Library in Split.[16]

In 1992 he was elected as an HDZ deputy to the lower house of the Croatian parliament, and became Minister of Science and Technology (1992–1993). From 1993 to 1995 and 1996 to 2000, he was a Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, overseeing the termination of required visas for Croatian citizens who traveled to Greece. He also used his negotiation skills to bring people to the Croatian Democratic Union from other Croatian parliamentary parties.[citation needed]

At the end of November 1995, he became Chief of Staff of the President of Croatia's office and General Secretary of the Croatian National Security and Defense Council (VONS) after Hrvoje Šarinić and Goran Drozdek were released from their duties. In January 1996 he became a member of the Council for Cooperation between Croatia and the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

During his second term as Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs he worked to bring Croatia and Israel together. Himself, Hrvoje Šarinić and Eytan Bentsur,[17] Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Israeli government, met in Budapest in 1997, at which point diplomatic relations between Croatia and Israel were established.[18]

Leader of Opposition (2000–03)

[edit]

In 2000, following Tuđman's death, HDZ suffered defeat in a parliamentary election. Furthermore, their candidate Mate Granić also failed to enter the second round of the presidential election. Granić then left to form the Democratic Centre party hoping to attract moderates from the HDZ. Inner-party election within the HDZ ensued in April that year and Sanader emerged victorious as a compromise candidate.

Initially, Sanader criticized the unpopular International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) indictments against Croatian Army generals. In 2001, he took part in a massive rally protesting a war crimes indictment against general Mirko Norac.[8] Sanader also criticised Ivica Račan and his cabinet's stance towards the ICTY. He gradually began to distance the party and himself from the protests, softening his criticism towards the government.

Sanader focused his efforts on transforming the HDZ into a modern pro-European right-of-center party. However, his course was challenged by the more conservative wing of the party led by Ivić Pašalić. The ensuing leadership struggle culminated at the 2002 party convention. Sanader, who was supported by Vladimir Šeks and Branimir Glavaš, managed to win his second mandate. Pašalić left the party to form his Croatian Bloc, but failed to draw many of his former supporters from the HDZ.

Sanader was later accused by Ivan Drmić, a former member of the Croatian Democratic Union, for rigging the presidential election at the 5th convention of the Croatian Democratic Union.[19] Spokesman for the Croatian Democratic Union Ratko Maček said such accusations "belong in the anthology of political stupidity."[20]

Sanader was able to concentrate on defeating Ivica Račan and his left-of-centre coalition at the 2003 parliamentary elections. HDZ won the election, but did not win an absolute majority in Sabor.[citation needed]

Prime Minister (2003–2009)

[edit]

First term (2003–2008)

[edit]
Sanader in 2005

After the victory of his Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) the President of the Republic named Sanader the Prime Minister-designate on 9 December 2003. In the post-election negotiations Sanader ensured the support of ethnic minority representatives, nominally left-wing Croatian Party of Pensioners and the Independent Democratic Serb Party. When the Croatian Parliament subsequently gave its consent by 88 votes (out of 152) on 23 December 2003, Sanader was formally appointed.[21]

The Sanader government's main foreign goal was Croatia's entry into the European Union and NATO. As a result of the successful implementation of the Association Agreement – signed with the European Union in 2001 – Croatia did become an official candidate for entry into the EU. Sanader's HDZ also sought to establish better relations with minority parties and 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 the country's compliance with political and economic criteria established by the 1993 Copenhagen European Council.[citation needed]

Sanader was the last statesman to visit Pope John Paul II in Vatican City, in February 2005, a few weeks before his death on 2 April 2005.[22]

In October 2005, following the formal start of EU accession negotiations, opinion polls showed Sanader to be the most popular Croatian politician.[23]

Sanader in a meeting with U.S. President George W. Bush at the White House, 17 October 2006

Škare Ožbolt reported that Sanader possessed a collection of wrist watches worth in excess of €150,000 which he had not declared as assets.[24] Former Minister of Justice Vesna Škare-Ožbolt in the Sanader government was the one who reported Sanader to a resolution council for conflict of interests.[24]

As Prime Minister, Sanader had close relations with other moderate conservative politicians in Europe: including former Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel, former Bavarian Prime Minister Edmund Stoiber, Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel, and Irish prime minister Bertie Ahern. The cabinet saw some changes during Sanader's term, notably the departure of the foreign minister Miomir Žužul who was accused of conflict of interest. His government was challenged by the rising tide of Euroscepticism in the country.[citation needed]

In July 2006, Sanader was named in the "Verona Affair", accused by the opposition in the Croatian parliament for fixing the sale of pharmaceutical company Pliva to Barr Pharmaceuticals from the US.[25] The accusations were denied and never proved.[26]

Sanader with Angela Merkel and Jyrki Katainen, at an EPP summit in 24 March 2007

Nacional, an independent political weekly, reported Sanader was a part of two bankrupt businesses in Austria, and received bribes in 1995 and 1996 from a tycoon amounting to 800,000 DEM.[12]

Second term (2008–2009)

[edit]
Speaker of the Croatian Parliament Luka Bebić (left) and Croatian President Stjepan Mesić alongside Sanader at a NATO flag-raising ceremony, following Croatia's accession to NATO, 7 April 2009

After the closely contested 2007 parliamentary election, and the first ever situation of ambiguity on who gets the mandate to form a government, Sanader emerged as the winner when President Stjepan Mesić gave him his second mandate, though this time in a coalition with the HSS and the HSLS.[27][28]

Owing in part to the global recession that set in during Sanader's term, Croatia's economic growth stalled and foreign direct investments slowed down. While displaying symptoms of economic decline shared by larger nations, Croatia's decline during Sanader's term was amplified in comparison with the fortunes of Serbia and next door Montenegro – who gained greater investments due to major reforms. Under Sanader, judicial reforms in Croatia stopped and the land registry issue was not resolved. Over 1.3 million court cases (in a country of 4.1 million people) were yet to be resolved in 2009.[dubiousdiscuss]

Croatia was expected to complete negotiations with the EU in 2009. However, the negotiations were stalled for 10 months due to Slovenia's blockade of Croatia's EU accession in December 2008. On 1 July 2009, Sanader announced his resignation as the Prime Minister and Leader of the HDZ, as well as his complete withdrawal from all active politics, adding that he does not intend to return.[29] At his press conference in Zagreb, Sanader remarked: "There is always a time in life for a new beginning. Such a moment has come and now it is time for others to take over."[30] According to BBC News, the announcement "came as a surprise", as Croatian media had quite recently named Sanader as a potential candidate for the 2010 presidential election.[31] He announced that his prime minister-designate would be deputy Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor.[30][31]

The Croatian Parliament accepted his resignation on 2 July 2009 and informed the President. Sanader was elected Honorary President of the HDZ for life.[citation needed]

Departure and return to politics (2009–2010)

[edit]
Sanader with Bosnian Presidency Chairman Haris Silajdžić, 27 May 2010

At the September 2009 Global Creative Economic Summit, Sanader discussed Croatia's shift from a heavily controlled economy to a bustling "knowledge-based" economy. According to Sanader, fostering the "competitiveness in everyday life" played an important role in this process.[32]

On 3 January 2010, contrary to his earlier statements (1 July 2009), Sanader announced he would be returning to a more active role in politics, stating that his decision to withdraw was a mistake, and that the HDZ is a "winning party and not a party that wins 12% of the vote", a remark made in connection with the first round of the presidential election held one week before.[33] He was supported by a dozen HDZ MPs, including Luka Bebić, but none of the members of the Government. Several of those MPs later disclaimed any association with Sanader and claimed they were misled.[34]

On 4 January 2010, following an entire day of meetings of HDZ leadership, Ivo Sanader was expelled from the Croatian Democratic Union. Of 22 members of the party presidency, 16 voted for expulsion, three were against (Luka Bebić, Mario Zubović and Damir Polančec) and two abstained (Bianca Matković and Petar Selem). Sanader himself was not present at the meeting.[35]

In October 2010, Sanader reactivated his parliamentary seat and regained parliamentary immunity.[36]

Arrest in Austria

[edit]

On 9 December 2010, he was spotted crossing the border into Slovenia, driven by his younger daughter Bruna[37] shortly before the Croatian parliament voted to remove his immunity from prosecution by the Croatian Bureau for Combating Corruption and Organized Crime (USKOK). The next day the Croatian police issued an arrest warrant[38] and applied to Interpol requesting his arrest to face charges of corruption.[39] He was arrested near Salzburg, Austria on 10 December 2010.[40] Croatian authorities froze his assets and bank accounts, and formally applied for extradition on 13 December.[41]

Austrian authorities, including a Carinthian parliamentary committee inquiring into the more recent Hypo Alpe-Adria-Bank International scandal, have questioned Sanader while in custody,[42] while USKOK expanded its investigation of Sanader to include alleged bribes by the Hypo Bank in the 1990s.[43]

Sanader is alleged to have received nearly $695,000 (£432,000) for arranging a loan from the Austrian Hypo Bank in 1995,[44] launching accusations of war profiteering,[45] and of receiving 10 million euros in bribes from the CEO of the Hungarian oil company MOL, Zsolt Hernádi, to secure MOL a dominant position in the Croatian oil company INA.[45]

Extradition, trials and imprisonment (2011–present)

[edit]

Sanader was extradited by Austria on 18 July 2011.[46] He was transferred to Remetinec prison in Zagreb.[46][47]

At his first court hearing on 28 October, he complained of heart problems, and he stated that he did not even know he was being taken to court. After hearing this, the judge decided to reschedule, and Sanader was taken to the hospital. His rescheduled court hearing took place in December 2011 and he was released on bail of $2.2 million on 16 December 2011.[48] In January 2012, it was announced that Sanader was facing a new set of corruption charges. USKOK included Sanader in its investigation into Croatia's state-owned electric company HEP's financial irregularities, including losses of $100 million, based on a witness statement that Sanader accepted a bribe to ensure lower electricity prices.[49]

In May 2012, it was announced that Sanader could be indicted again on corruption offences. It was alleged that he could be charged for his involvement in arranging the sale of electricity to Croatian petrochemical company Dioki Group at prices below market, which damaged the state electricity company HEP by several million Kunas. The former CEO and owner of Dioki, Ivan Mravak and Robert Jezic could also face charges.[50]

In September 2012, A fifth indictment was filed against Ivo Sanader for damaging the state budget by 26 million kuna (3.6 million euro). Prosecutors claimed that the damage was done by selling a building built by Fiolic's firm to the Ministry of Regional Development for more than twice the price that the building was actually worth.[51]

According to calculations of Croatian news site Politika Plus from 2012, total damage done to the budget due to corruption scandals involving Sanader counts at least 207 million kuna.[52] He was indicted five times in total; in Fimi Media, Planinska, INA-MOL, Hypo and HEP cases.

On 20 November 2012, Sanader was sentenced to 10 years in prison in a first-degree verdict for Hypo and INA-MOL cases. He was the highest official in Croatia to be convicted of corruption.[53][54] Sanader denied wrongdoing and stated that his trial was politically motivated.[55] The judge, Ivan Turudić, said that Sanader had disgraced Croatia, adding that he had used his office for his own personal enrichment and not for the common good. Sanader was transferred from the court to the Remetinec prison.[citation needed]

In June 2014, the Supreme Court of Croatia confirmed the 2012 verdict, but reduced Sanader's prison sentence to 8+12 years.[56] On that occasion, president Ivo Josipović described Sanader's involvement in MOL's acquisition of INA as "high treason".[57] In 2015, the verdict was quashed by the Constitutional Court based on procedural errors made during the trial. After spending nearly 5 years both in custody and prison, he was released and set to stand a retrial.

In 2017, he was sentenced to 4+12 years in Planinska case. In April 2019, this conviction was confirmed by Supreme Court and sentence raised to 6 years. Since then, Sanader has been incarcerated.

In 2020, he was convicted and sentenced to an additional sentence of 8 years in prison as the result of retrial in the Fimi Media case.[58] That same year, he was convicted and sentenced to an additional sentence of 6 years in prison for the INA-MOL case. Both of these verdicts were confirmed by the Supreme Court in 2021, with the sentence in the Fimi Media case having been reduced to 7 years. His acquittal in the HEP case was confirmed that same year.

In 2022, he was acquitted in Hypo case, but that has yet to be confirmed by the Supreme Court. In 2023, his sentences stemming from the three convictions were merged into one single sentence totaling 18 years and 8 months, and later reduced to 18 years by the Supreme Court.

As of 2024, he is serving his sentence at Lipovica prison[59][60] and cannot be released before 2033.

Honors

[edit]
Award or decoration Country Awarded by Date Place
Honorary Colonel of Armed Forces of Croatia  Croatia Franjo Tuđman 1993 Zagreb
Bavarian Order of Merit  Germany Edmund Stoiber 2007 Munich[8]

Revoked

[edit]

On 15 July 2014, President Ivo Josipović revoked all of Sanader's national decorations following the final judgment by the Supreme Court by which he was sentenced to imprisonment for a term of 8 years and 6 months due to his corruption while he served as Prime Minister.[61]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Cvitić, Plamenko; Gaura, Orhidea (10 December 2010). "Kako se kućio odbjegli premijer" [How the runaway prime minister built his estate]. Nacional (in Croatian). Zagreb. Archived from the original on 20 November 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
  2. ^ "Croatian Ex-Premier Sanader Convicted in Slush Fund Case Retrial". Balkan Insight. 13 November 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  3. ^ "Jutarnji list - Ljudi su zaboravili što smo sve trebali proći, samo se prisjetite što je 2011. rekao poznati njemački političar". novac.jutarnji.hr (in Croatian). 12 July 2022. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  4. ^ Radoš 2015, pp. 4–7.
  5. ^ Radoš 2015, pp. 14–15.
  6. ^ Ivo Sanader biodata Archived 27 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine, jutarnji.hr; accessed 28 April 2015.
  7. ^ Radoš 2015, p. 18.
  8. ^ a b c d "Ivo Sanader". vecernji.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  9. ^ Radoš 2015, pp. 19–20.
  10. ^ "Sanader iznosi obranu: Tražim oslobađajuću presudu za sebe i stranku". Večernji list (in Croatian). 12 February 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  11. ^ Radoš 2015, p. 24.
  12. ^ a b Robert Bajruši (16 January 2007). "Sanader's Austrian Affairs". Nacional. No. 583. Archived from the original on 31 May 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  13. ^ Radoš 2015, p. 27.
  14. ^ "Životopis predsjednika hrvatske Vlade Ive Sanadera". Index.hr (in Croatian). 23 December 2003. Retrieved 9 October 2009.
  15. ^ Radoš 2015, pp. 27–28.
  16. ^ Radoš 2015, pp. 29–30.
  17. ^ "Eytan Bentsur". Jewish Virtual Library. American–Israeli Cooperative Enterprise. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
  18. ^ Prime Minister Ivo Sanader profile Archived 2 November 2007 at the Wayback Machine, vlada.hr; accessed 28 April 2015.(in Croatian)
  19. ^ Marković, Stjepan (23 November 2006). "Drmić: Krao sam glasove za Sanadera" [Drmić: I stole votes on behalf of Sanader]. Nacional (in Croatian). Archived from the original on 13 June 2011. Retrieved 9 October 2009.
  20. ^ "Maček: Drmićev istup ulazi u antologiju političke gluposti" (PDF). Vjesnik (in Croatian). 24 November 2006. Retrieved 9 October 2009.[permanent dead link]
  21. ^ "Deveta vlada" (in Croatian). Croatian Information-Documentation Referral Agency. Archived from the original on 10 July 2012. Retrieved 10 December 2010.
  22. ^ "Croatian prime minister asks Vatican for help in pushing for EU membership talks". The America's Intelligence Wire. 22 February 2005.
  23. ^ "Croatian prime minister resigns". News Article BBC. EU Observer. July 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
  24. ^ a b Ćustić, Marko (9 January 2007). "All the Premier's watches". Nacional. Archived from the original on 8 August 2011. Retrieved 9 October 2009.
  25. ^ Barković, Neven (5 September 2006). "Zašto je Sanaderu put u Veronu bio važniji od proslave Dana državnosti u Vukovaru?". Index.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 9 October 2009.
  26. ^ "Premijer Sanader: U Veronu sam išao na poziv organizatora" (in Croatian). Croatian Government. 27 September 2006. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 9 October 2009.
  27. ^ "A sada koalicijski sporazum i sastavljanje vlade". Vjesnik (in Croatian). 17 December 2007. Archived from the original on 13 November 2007. Retrieved 10 December 2010.
  28. ^ "Deseta vlada" (in Croatian). Croatian Information-Documentation Referral Agency. Archived from the original on 10 July 2012. Retrieved 10 December 2010.
  29. ^ "Sanader dao ostavku na mjesto premijera i predsjednika stranke". Jutarnji list (in Croatian). 1 July 2009. Archived from the original on 18 September 2009. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  30. ^ a b Ilic, Igor (1 July 2009). "Croatia's PM Sanader resigns, quits politics". Reuters. Archived from the original on 5 July 2009. Retrieved 1 July 2009.
  31. ^ a b "Croatia's PM Sanader steps down". BBC News. 1 July 2009. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  32. ^ A Celebration of Innovation Archived 19 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine 2009 Global Creative Leadership Summit.
  33. ^ "Sanader: Odluka da se povučem iz aktivne politike bila je pogreška". Vecernji list (in Croatian). 3 January 2010. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  34. ^ "Predsjedništvo HDZ-a izbacilo Sanadera iz stranke!". Jutarnji list (in Croatian). 4 January 2010. Archived from the original on 22 April 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  35. ^ "Kosor potvrdila: Sanader izbrisan iz HDZ-a!". Index.hr (in Croatian). 3 January 2010.
  36. ^ "Sanader: Situacija me natjerala da aktiviram saborski mandat". Večernji list (in Croatian). 21 October 2010.
  37. ^ "Odazvat ću se pozivu Uskoka, Bruna Sanader se vratila u Zagreb". index.hr. 12 December 2010.
  38. ^ Arrest warrant for Ivo Sanader Archived 14 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine, Ministry of Internal Affairs
  39. ^ "Croatia issues warrant for arrest of ex-PM Sanader". BBC News. 10 December 2010.
  40. ^ Croatian ex-PM Ivo Sanader arrested in Austria, BBC News; accessed 28 April 2015.
  41. ^ "Croatia's Sanader awaiting extradition in Salzburg prison". 14 December 2010. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  42. ^ "Hypo may have paid Sanader for loan deals". Croatiantimes.com. Archived from the original on 16 March 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  43. ^ "Croatia's Sanader Faces New Corruption Probe". Balkan Insight. 4 March 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  44. ^ "Croatia ex-PM Ivo Sanader denies corruption at trial". BBC News. 3 November 2011.
  45. ^ a b "Prosecution witness testifies in Sanader trial". Daily TPortal. 8 December 2011. Archived from the original on 27 November 2012.
  46. ^ a b "Ex-PM Sanader back in Croatia". Croatian Times. 19 July 2011. Archived from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
  47. ^ "Austria extradites Sanader". Austrian Independent. 19 July 2011. Archived from the original on 24 August 2011. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
  48. ^ Staff (16 December 2011). "Croatia's former PM Sanader released on bail". Reuters.
  49. ^ "New Corruption Charges Against Former Croatian PM". OCCRP. 24 January 2012.
  50. ^ Croatian Times (6 May 2012). "Ex PM Sanader faces another indictment". Croatian Times. Archived from the original on 9 May 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  51. ^ Boris Pavelic (3 September 2012). "Fifth Indictment Filed Against Former Croatian PM". Balkan Insight. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  52. ^ "SVE SANADEROVE AFERE Tereti ga se da je državu oštetio za više od 200 milijuna kuna!". politikaplus.com. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  53. ^ "Croatia jails ex-PM Ivo Sanader for taking bribes". BBC. 20 November 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  54. ^ Škiljić-Ravenšćak, Ana (20 November 2012). "Sanaderu deset godina, stigao u remetinečki zatvor!". Večernji list (in Croatian). Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  55. ^ "Croatia jails ex-PM Ivo Sanader for taking bribes". The Guardian. 20 November 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  56. ^ "Croatia Supreme court confirms guilty verdict but reduces ex-PM Sanader's corruption sentence". Fox News. 13 June 2014. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 15 June 2014.
  57. ^ "Cijelu priču mogu okarakterizirati samo jednom rječju, a to je veleizdaja". rtl.hr (in Croatian). RTL Televizija. 14 June 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  58. ^ "Croatian Ex-Premier Sanader Convicted in Slush Fund Case Retrial". 13 November 2020.
  59. ^ "Jutarnji list - SANADER PREPRAĆEN U ZATVOR Bivši hrvatski premijer doveden u Remetinec na odsluženje kazne u trajanju od šest godina". 4 April 2019.
  60. ^ "Zatvor u Remetincu je prepun, ali Josip Klemm je u ćeliji sam".
  61. ^ Odluka o oduzimanju odlikovanja Ivi (Jakovljevu) Sanaderu. Narodne novine; retrieved 5 December 2016. (in Croatian)

Bibliography

[edit]
[edit]
Political offices
Preceded by Minister of Science and Technology
1992–1993
Succeeded by
Preceded by Prime Minister of Croatia
2003–2009
Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by 0President of the Croatian Democratic Union0
2000–2009
Succeeded by