Berislav Rončević (born 23 June 1960) is a

Croatia , image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg , anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland") , image_map = , map_caption = , capit ...

n politician, and the former Minister of Internal Affairs in the

government of Croatia The Government of Croatia ( hr, Vlada Hrvatske), formally the Government of the Republic of Croatia ( hr, Vlada Republike Hrvatske), commonly abbreviated to Croatian Government ( hr, hrvatska Vlada), is the main executive branch of government ...

and the Minister of Defense. Rončević was born in the village of Borovik near

Đakovo Đakovo (; hu, Diakovár) is a town in the region of Slavonia, Croatia. Đakovo is the centre of the fertile and rich Đakovo region ( hr, Đakovština ). Etymology The etymology of the name is the gr, διάκος (diákos) in Slavic form đ ...

. He graduated from the

Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb The Faculty of Law of the University of Zagreb ( hr, Pravni fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, la, Universitas Studiorum Zagrabiensis, Facultas Iuridica, PFZG) is the law school of the University of Zagreb. Founded in 1776 by Empress Maria Theres ...

in 1985. Rončević has been a member of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) since 1990. He began his political career in the party in the town of

Našice Našice () is a town in eastern Croatia, located on the northern slopes of the Krndija mountain in eastern Slavonia, 51 km southwest of regional hub Osijek. Administratively it belongs to Osijek-Baranja County. Geography Našice is located ...

, and afterwards within the

Osijek-Baranja County Osijek-Baranja County (, hr, Osječko-baranjska županija, hu, Eszék-Baranya megye) is a county in Croatia, located in northeastern Slavonia and Baranja. Its center is Osijek. Other towns include Đakovo, Našice, Valpovo, Belišće, and B ...

. He was assistant to the mayor, and later mayor of

himself. He has been a representative in the

Parliament of Croatia The Croatian Parliament ( hr, Hrvatski sabor) or the Sabor is the unicameral legislature of the Republic of Croatia. Under the terms of the Croatian Constitution, the Sabor represents the people and is vested with legislative power. The Sabor ...

since 2000. After parliamentary elections in 2003 he took on the portfolio of defence minister. In December 2010, Rončević was sentenced to four years in prison for alleged improprieties during acquisition of army trucks in 2004. After his guilty verdict was

vacated A vacated judgment (also known as vacatur relief) makes a previous legal judgment legally void. A vacated judgment is usually the result of the judgment of an appellate court, which overturns, reverses, or sets aside the judgment of a lower court. ...

by the

Supreme Court A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of courts in most legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, apex court, and high (or final) court of appeal. Broadly speaking, the decisions of ...

in April 2013, Rončević was acquitted in the second trial in January 2014. Rončević is married and a father of four.

References

1960 births Living people Representatives in the modern Croatian Parliament Croatian Democratic Union politicians Defence ministers of Croatia Interior ministers of Croatia Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb alumni Croatian politicians convicted of crimes {{Croatia-politician-stub