Andrej Plenković Biography – Early Life, Career and Facts

Early life and education

Andrej Plenković was born on April 8, 1970 in Zagreb. On his official website, he states that he grew up in Zagreb and that his roots come from Dalmatia – his father Mario Plenković was from Svirč on the island of Hvar, and his mother was Vjekoslav Raos-Plenković from Makarska. The father was a university professor of communication, and the mother was a cardiologist.

The Prime Minister attended elementary school in Jordanovac, and then the Education Center for Languages. During his education, he played sports; He coached football, tennis and water polo, and he played basketball in several Zagreb clubs and later in Brussels and Paris. He speaks English, French and Italian fluently, and uses German.

Study of law

In 1988, Plenković entered the Faculty of Law of the University of Zagreb and graduated in 1993 in international public law, where he dealt with the institutions of the European Community and the decision-making process as a graduate topic. During his studies, he was the president of the European Association of Law Students (ELSA) Zagreb in 1991, the first president of ELSA Croatia in 1992 and 1993 president of the ELSA International Committee. He completed his student internship in 1992 at the law firm Stephenson Harwood in London. He passed the state professional exam in 1997, and in 1999 the exam for diplomatic advisor.

At the Faculty of Law, he completed his postgraduate studies in international public and private law, and in 2002 he obtained the title of Master of Science, defending his work on the subjectivity of the European Union.

diplomatic career

In 1994, Plenković got a job at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as an expert associate in the Department for European Integration. Already in 1997, he became the head of that department and advisor to the minister for European affairs. At that time, he participated in the negotiations on the Agreement on the Stabilization and Association of Croatia with the EU and was the national coordinator for the Central European Initiative.

From 2002 to 2005, he was the deputy head of the Croatian mission to the European Union in Brussels, where he lobbied for the status of a candidate country and the opening of accession negotiations. Later, between 2005 and 2010, he held the position of deputy ambassador of the Republic of Croatia in France. As Secretary of State for European Integration (2010-2011), he made a political and professional contribution to the completion of Croatian negotiations for accession to the EU and led an information campaign for a referendum on membership.

Entering politics and climbing the HDZ

In 2011, Plenković joined the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ). In the parliamentary elections in December 2011, he was elected as a member of the Croatian Parliament, and from April 2012 to July 2013, he was also one of 12 representatives‑observers in the European Parliament.

In the first elections for the European Parliament on April 14, 2013, he was elected on the joint list of HDZ and partners, and on July 2, 2013, he became the first Croatian representative to speak at the plenary session of the European parliament in the Croatian language. In 2014, he led the winning list of HDZ in the European elections and re-entered the European Parliament; There he became the vice president of the Foreign Affairs Committee. During his mandate, he paid special attention to supporting the European future of Bosnia and Herzegovina, organizing conferences and promoting Croatia’s interests.

In the extraordinary elections of 2016, HDZ highlighted him as the holder of the list in the first constituency. After the relative victory of the HDZ, the President of the Republic Kolinda Grabar‑Kitarović on October 10, 2016, gave him a mandate to form a new government; With the support of 91 deputies, the 14th Government of the Republic of Croatia was voted on October 19, 2016, and Plenković became prime minister. In the same month, he was elected HDZ president with 98,335 votes in extraordinary internal party elections.

Prime Minister – mandates 2016-2026.

First term (2016–2020) – After he became prime minister, Plenković formed the coalition government of HDZ and Most. In the first mandate, he faced the crisis of the Agrokor concern and the implementation of structural reforms. His government reduced public debt and achieved an increase in credit rating; Two agencies (Standard & Poor’s and Fitch) raised the Croatian credit rating to an investment level. The government also started the construction of the Pelješko Bridge and accelerated the use of European funds.

Second term (2020-2024) – In the elections on July 5, 2020, the HDZ won the relative majority again, and the President of the Republic Zoran Milanović on July 16, 2020 entrusted Plenković with a mandate to form the 15th Government of the Republic of Croatia. In the second term, the government focused on economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic and preparations for the introduction of the euro, which was introduced on January 1, 2023. Plenković also led negotiations on Croatia’s entry into the Schengen area (Croatia entered in Schengen on January 1, 2023).

Third term (2024–) – In the parliamentary elections on April 17, 2024, HDZ again won the highest number of mandates and formed a coalition. On May 17, 2024, the Croatian Parliament voted confidence in the new government led by Plenković. At the first session of the third term, the Prime Minister said that the Government’s program synthesizes programs of coalition parties and contains five areas: successful, vital, just, sustainable and sovereign Croatia. He thanked the representatives who gave 79 votes for the trust and emphasized that the trust of the citizens obliges him to work in the next four years.

private life

Andrej Plenković is married to lawyer Ana Maslać-Plenković, from Dubrovnik, with whom she has three children – daughter Mila and sons Marija and Ivan. Unlike her husband, Ana Maslać rarely appears in public.

Social networks and public presence

Plenković is active on several social networks. The official profile listed on his website includes Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, Flickr, TikTok and WhatsApp. In March 2024, he opened the official TikTok profile in order, according to him, to bring the government closer to younger citizens; In the first video, he invited users to make suggestions and suggestions.

Public interest and reasons for search

As the longest-serving Croatian prime minister (since 2016), Plenković is constantly in the public’s focus. Citizens are looking for information about his political program, economic results of the Government, relations with partners in the European Union, and about reforms in health, justice and economy. There is also interest in his personal life – his wife and children – and in attitudes towards social issues such as the Eurozone, Schengen and policies towards the region.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How old is Andrej Plenković?

He was born on April 8, 1970 in Zagreb. on the day 25. January 2026. He is 55 years old; The 56th birthday will be celebrated on April 8, 2026.

Where did he study?

Plenković graduated from the University of Zagreb in 1993 and received a master’s degree in international public and private law in 2002.

When did he become Prime Minister?

The mandate to form the Government received October 10, 2016; On October 19, 2016, the Croatian Parliament gave him confidence, making him the 14th Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia.

What languages does he speak?

He speaks English, French and Italian and speaks German.

Who is the wife of Andrej plenković?

His wife is Ana Maslać-Plenković, a lawyer born in Dubrovnik.

How many children do they have?

They have three children – daughter Mila and sons Marija and Ivan.

Is the height, weight or property status of the prime minister known?

Is the height, weight or property status of the prime minister known? Such data are not publicly available; Plenković does not publish them, so even official sources do not cite them.

Conclusion

Andrej Plenković is a lawyer, diplomat and politician who, after a rich diplomatic career, became the president of the Croatian Democratic Union and the 12th Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia in 2016. Through several mandates, he led Croatia through an economic and pandemic crisis, introduced the Euro and Schengen and continued to strengthen the country’s international position. Although he shares information about his work and attitudes, he keeps his private life away from the public. For current information on its policies and activities, citizens can follow the official government channels and its profiles on social networks.