Leader of the Opposition (Croatia)

In Croatia, the Opposition (Oporba) comprises all political parties represented in the Croatian Parliament that are not part of the Government which is supported by the parliamentary majority.

The Leader of the Opposition (Šef oporbe) is the unofficial title held by the leader of the largest party with no representatives within the government. Where one party wins outright this is usually the leader of the second largest political party in the Parliament (usually the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) or the Social Democratic Party (SDP)).

The current Leader of the Opposition is Peđa Grbin, president of the SDP, who took up the role on 16 May 2024, with the beginning of the 11th assembly.

6th assembly of Sabor
In the Sixth assembly of the Croatian Parliament (2007–2011), the parties in Sabor that included the opposition were:
 * Social Democratic Party
 * Croatian People's Party – Liberal Democrats
 * Istrian Democratic Assembly
 * Croatian Democratic Assembly of Slavonia and Baranja
 * Croatian Party of Pensioners
 * Croatian Party of Rights
 * Croatian Labourists – Labour Party

The leader of the opposition was Zoran Milanović, leader of the Social Democratic Party of Croatia.

7th assembly of Sabor
In the Seventh assembly of the Croatian Parliament (2011–2015), the parties in Sabor that include the opposition were:
 * Croatian Democratic Union
 * Croatian Labourists – Labour Party
 * Croatian Democratic Assembly of Slavonia and Baranja
 * Independent list of Ivan Grubišić
 * Croatian Citizen Party
 * Croatian Party of Rights dr. Ante Starčević
 * Croatian Peasant Party
 * Democratic Centre

8th assembly of Sabor
In the Eight assembly of the Croatian Parliament (2015–2016), the parties in Sabor that include the opposition are:
 * Social Democratic Party
 * Croatian People's Party – Liberal Democrats
 * Croatian Labourists – Labour Party
 * Istrian Democratic Assembly
 * Croatian Party of Pensioners
 * Croatian Democratic Alliance of Slavonia and Baranja
 * People's Party - Reformists
 * Human Blockade

9th assembly of Sabor
In the Ninth assembly of the Croatian Parliament (2016–2020), the parties in Sabor that include the opposition are:


 * Social Democratic Party
 * Istrian Democratic Assembly
 * Human Blockade
 * Croatian Party of Pensioners
 * Croatian Democratic Alliance of Slavonia and Baranja
 * Bridge of Independent Lists

The leader of the opposition from 14 October 2016 until 26 November 2016 was Zoran Milanović and since 26 November 2016 it has been Davor Bernardić, the leader of the Social Democratic Party.

10th assembly of Sabor
In the Tenth assembly of the Croatian Parliament (2020–), the parties in Sabor that include the opposition are:


 * Social Democratic Party
 * Istrian Democratic Assembly
 * The Bridge
 * Homeland Movement
 * We can!
 * Croatian Sovereignists
 * Social Democrats (since 9 July 2022)

The acting leader of the opposition from 6 July 2020 until 3 October 2020 was Zlatko Komadina, and from 3 October 2020 until 9 July 2022 it had been Peđa Grbin, the leader of the Social Democratic Party. A new party called the Social Democrats was founded on 9 July 2022, and it immediately became the largest opposition party in parliament. Its leader, Davorko Vidović, thus took up the role of leader of the opposition.

List of leaders of the Opposition since the first multi-party election
(4) (1) (3) (1)

Leaders of the Opposition by time in office
1. Dražen Budiša       7 years, 167 days 2. Zoran Milanović     5 years, 148 days 3. Ivica Račan         4 years, 157 days 4. Tomislav Karamarko  3 years, 246 days 5. Ivo Sanader         3 years, 237 days 6. Davor Bernardić     3 years, 223 days 7. Davorko Vidović 1 year, 312 days 8. Peđa Grbin 1 year, 279 days 9. Jadranka Kosor      150 days 10. Vladimir Šeks (Acting) 93 days 11. Zlatko Komadina (Acting) 89 days 12. Željka Antunović (Acting) 52 days