Franjo Tudjman

Franjo Tuđman was elected as the first president of the Republic of Croatia in the first multi-party elections, leading the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) to victory. This marked the end of communist rule in Croatia and set the stage for independence from Yugoslavia.

Tuđman led Croatia in declaring independence from Yugoslavia on June 25, 1991, following a referendum. This triggered the Croatian War of Independence, as the Yugoslav People's Army and Serb rebels opposed secession, leading to a four-year conflict.

Tuđman authorized Operation Storm, a large-scale military offensive that recaptured the Serb-held Krajina region in Croatia. The operation ended the Croatian War of Independence but resulted in the exodus of approximately 200,000 Serb civilians, leading to accusations of ethnic cleansing.

Tuđman signed the Dayton Agreement on behalf of Croatia, ending the Bosnian War. The agreement established the political structure of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with Croatia playing a key role in supporting the Bosnian Croats and the Federation entity.

Tuđman died in office on December 10, 1999, after a battle with cancer. His death marked the end of an era in Croatian politics, as he had been the dominant figure since independence. His legacy remains deeply divisive, with praise for achieving independence and criticism for authoritarian tendencies.