Sandra Benčić (born January 28, 1978 in Zabok) is a Croatian politician and civil rights activist. She graduated from the Faculty of Law in Zagreb (Master of Law, 2014), and since 2019 she has been active in the ecological-left platform We can! – First as a member, and since March 2023 as one of the two party coordinators. Since July 2020, she has been a member of parliament and a member of the Club of Representatives of the Green-Left Bloc. It is emphasized by the criticism of corruption and advocacy for social justice, human rights and environmental protection.
- Born: Zabok, January 28, 1978.
- Education: Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb – Master of Law (2014).
- party: We can! – Platform of civil activism (coordinator since 2023).
- Member of Parliament: Elected in 2020 (10th convocation of the Parliament, dated 22 July 2020), re-elected in 2024 for the 11th convocation.
- Committees: President of the Committee for Environment and Nature Protection (from 2020) and member of the Committee for the Constitution, Rules of Procedure and Political System (from 2021).
- Personally: Married to Miroslav Petrović (also active in Mož); They have two sons.
Early life and education
Sandra Benčić grew up in a family from Zabok and completed her high school education in Zagreb. Her law studies at the University of Zagreb lasted longer than average – she finished it in 2014 after about 18 years of study – but she never regretted it. Having received the title of Master of Law, she dealt with mediation in EU funds and legal matters before political activity.
activism and work in the civil sector
Before entering politics, Benčić stood out in the non-governmental sector. She worked at the Center for Peace Studies (CMS) until 2018, focusing on the topics of migration and social inequality. She was also one of the founders of a consulting company reasoning which provided services in the withdrawal of European development funds. She worked as a lecturer in Algebra and as an external expert of the Council of Europe for Freedom of Speech, and participated in various bodies for civil society (Committee for Complaints at the MUP, Council for the Development of Civil Society).
- Center for Peace Studies (CMS): member and expert on migration and inequalities (until 2018).
- Company Razbor: Co-founder of a consulting company for EU projects (regional development).
- Education and counseling: lecturer in algebra; External expert of the Council of Europe for Freedom of Speech.
- Civil tips: Member of the Complaints Committee of the MUP and Council for the Development of Civil Society.
political career
Benčić has been politically active since the very foundation of the We Can! 2019. In the parliamentary elections in 2020, she was at the top of the list of the Green-Lef Coalition in the 1st constituency, and was elected to the Croatian Parliament. Since then, she has held significant positions in Parliament:
- We can party coordinator! – unanimously elected as a candidate for Prime Minister in 2024.
- Member of Parliament: The mandate begins on July 22, 2020 (10th convocation); re-elected in 2024 (11th convocation).
- President of the Committee for Environment and Nature Protection – from July 31, 2020.
- Member of the Committee for the Constitution, Rules of Procedure and Political System – from June 25, 2021.
- List holder and candidate for prime minister – We can put her at the head of the list for the 2024 parliamentary elections.
During the parliamentary mandate, Benčić was active in debates on corruption, social justice and climate policies. For example, she came forward at protests from the opposition and organized civil actions against the bad situation in the judiciary and the corrupt practices of the ruling party. According to media reports, Benčić profiled herself as a ‘prominent feminist activist for human rights’ and one of the leaders of the new generation of left-wing politicians in Croatia.
personal life
Sandra Benčić is married to Miroslav Petrović, who is also active in the Moće party. The married couple has two sons. In public appearances, Benčić often emphasizes the importance of family support – he states that her husband significantly facilitates her household duties so that she can devote herself to politics and activism. The Benčić-Petrović family spends most of their lives in Zagreb, and they dedicate their shared free moments to socializing and traveling within Europe.
Conclusion
Sandra Benčić is an example of a young generation of Croatian politicians who moved from civil society to the highest political waters. With its work and attitudes, we strive to highlight the fundamental values of platforms – social equality, environmental protection and the fight against corruption. As a member of parliament and future candidate for prime minister, her influence is increasing on the Croatian political scene. For more detailed information about Sandra Benčić and her work, we recommend the official website of the Croatian Parliament, as well as the publication of the Platform! on their website.
