Croatia marks anniversary of Tuđman's death

A commemoration at Zagreb's Mirogoj Cemetery on Wednesday marked the 26th anniversary of the death of Croatia's first President, Franjo Tuđman.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, who also heads the ruling HDZ, paid tribute in a message on X, praising Tuđman's "leadership and vision." He said Tuđman's statesmanship enabled "the centuries-old aspiration of the Croatian people for a free, democratic, and internationally recognized state."

Plenković wrote that Tuđman's political legacy must be preserved by working for the well-being of Croatian citizens and advancing the country's economic development. He added that Croatia will "always preserve the truth about the Homeland War" and protect the rights of veterans who "made the greatest sacrifice."

He noted that Tuđman laid the foundations for Croatia's European trajectory, highlighting the country's membership in the EU, NATO, the eurozone, and the Schengen Area, as well as its progress toward joining the OECD.

Plenković concluded that Croatia would continue to use its strong international standing "to achieve the goals of the Croatian people in the fourth decade of independence."