Oleg Butković (born in 1979 in Rijeka) is a Croatian politician who has held the position of Minister of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure since 2016. Since 2022, he has been one of the vice-presidents of the Government of the Republic of Croatia. He is a member of the HDZ, and since 2020 he also holds the position of vice president of that party. In his career, he first operated at the local level (formerly the mayor of Novi Vinodolski for many years), and later at the national level he led key infrastructure projects and transport policies.
Early life and education
Oleg Butković was born on May 4, 1979 in words. Since he was a child, he trained as a naval engineer and sailor. He attended maritime school in Bakro, where he graduated in 1998. After that he graduated in 2002 nautical at the Maritime Faculty of the University of Rijeka. During his studies and his youth, he also practiced a naval cadet on a motor ship.
Key education and early career dates:
– 1998: Completion of Maritime School, Bakar
– 2002: B.Sc. Nautical (Maritime Faculty, University of Rijeka)
– In the early 2000s, he also did cadetship on a ship St. Nicholas, and taught at preparatory consultations for maritime officer exams.
Political career and local government
Butkovic started his political career in HDZ as a young activist. Already in 2005, he became the president of the HDZ City Committee in Novi Vinodolski. In the same year, he was chosen the mayor of Novi Vinodolski – He held that position for 11 years (2005–2016). He used the local government to improve communal and tourist conditions in that coastal town.
He also built a career in the party hierarchy: in 2012, he took over the leadership of the HDZ County Board in the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, and soon became a member of the Central Committee and chairman of the HDZ Transport and Maritime Affairs Committee. In 2020, he was elected one of the vice-presidents of HDZ.
National duty: Minister and Deputy Prime Minister
In 2016, Oleg Butković was appointed Minister of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure in the then Government of Tihomir Orešković, and he retained the same position in all subsequent governments of Andrej Plenković. This makes him one of the few ministers whose mandate lasts several mandates. In January 2022, he was additionally appointed Deputy Prime Minister, after the resignation of Zdravko Marić. As Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Butković coordinates large infrastructure projects and maritime and transport strategies.
Major state duties (timeline):
– 2005–2016: Mayor of Novi Vinodolski.
– 2016–2022: Minister of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure in the Government of the Republic of Croatia.
– 2022–today: Minister of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure and Deputy Prime Minister.
During the ministry, Butković emphasized investments in transport infrastructure. For example, in 2023, on a tour of the construction site of the Križevci – Hungarian border (value ~350 million EUR), he stated that this project is ‘one of the most expensive traffic projects at the moment’ after the Pelješko Bridge. During his tenure, he completed Pelješki bridge (July 2022), an important strategic project that connected southern Dalmatia with the rest of Croatia.
Additional information
Oleg Butković is a graduate engineer by profession. The Government of the Republic of Croatia states that he is married (wife Barbara) and father of two children. In addition to working engagement, he is active in associations of students and entrepreneurs (assemblies of associations in Poreč and Vinodol). speaks English, Italian and German Language and in his spare time he deals with bocce, playing cards and reads political and philosophical literature.
Controversies
Butković is also prominent in the public because of the recent conflict of interest. The Commission for deciding on conflicts of interest fined him in September 2025 with a €3,000 fine for his fine Employment mediations connected with a friend of former state secretary Josipa Rimac. According to the Commission’s decision, Butković abused his position in 2019 to influence the employment of a young engineer at the IGH Institute. Butković disputed the memory of these messages, but his sanction was confirmed by the final decision of the Commission. This affair drew attention to the ethical aspect of political employment, and Butković announced that he would consider legal steps against the decision.
Conclusion
Oleg Butković is a prominent HDZ politician whose career has been marked by a long-term mayoral service and several mandates in ministerial duties. During the Minister of Transport, he oversaw projects of national importance (such as the Pelješko Bridge and the modernization of railways), but he also faced criticism related to conflict of interest. His work can be followed by official sources of the Government of the Republic of Croatia and media reports.
Key points (short overview):
– Oleg Butković has been the Minister of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure since 2016.
– Since 2022. He also holds the position of Deputy Prime Minister.
– He is a member of the HDZ, and since 2020 the vice-president of the party.
– 2005–2016. He was the mayor of Novi Vinodolski.
– Year In 2025, he was fined €3,000 for a conflict of interest (unauthorized employment mediation).
For more information on the work of the Government of the Republic of Croatia and projects led by Minister Butković, follow official announcements and relevant media. If you have additional questions or comments about Oleg Butković and politics, feel free to contact us in the comments – your feedback is welcome!
Sources: Data were taken from official sources (Government of the Republic of Croatia, Ministry of Transport Infrastructure) and reliable media articles. Cover photo: © European Union, 1998 – 2025, Public Domain, Via Wikimedia Commons
