Goran Granić (born 18 April 1950) is a former

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 ...

centre-left Centre-left politics lean to the left on the left–right political spectrum but are closer to the centre than other left-wing politics. Those on the centre-left believe in working within the established systems to improve social justice. The ...

politician A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking ...

who was the deputy prime minister from 2000 to 2002. Granić was born in

Baška Voda Baška Voda () is a municipality in Croatia in the Split-Dalmatia County. It has a population of 2,775 (2011 census), 96.2% of which are Croats. It is located on the Adriatic coastline of Dalmatia 10 km northwest of Makarska. Climate Ba ...

. He graduated from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering in Zagreb in 1972, obtaining a Ph.D. from the same faculty in 1979. From 1973 to 1978 he worked as a researcher at the Energy Institute in Zagreb. After the first democratic elections in 1990, Granić became the first director of

Hrvatska elektroprivreda Hrvatska elektroprivreda (HEP Group) is a national power company in Croatia which has been engaged in electricity production, transmission and distribution for more than one century, and with heat supply and gas distribution for the past few dec ...

, the national power company of Croatia. From 1992 to 1995, Granić served as a member of the Croatian Parliament. From 1995–1996, Granić was selected as mayor of

Zagreb Zagreb ( , , , ) is the capital and largest city of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb stands near the international border between Croatia and Slov ...

by his party that won the local elections. However, the president, Franjo Tuđman did not allow him to proceed with his duties as mayor, leading to the Zagreb Crisis: Zagreb's local government would go on to place four other mayors from the party, each of which was blocked by Tuđman. As a member of the HSLS party, which was allied with SDP during the 2000 parliament elections, Granić entered the newly formed government as Ivica Račan's deputy prime minister. He was much praised by his superior, Račan, during his term in office. However, HSLS's leader,

Dražen Budiša Dražen Budiša (born 25 July 1948) is a Croatian politician who used to be a leading opposition figure in the 1990s and a two-time presidential candidate. As president of the Croatian Social Liberal Party through the 1990s he remains to date the ...

(having failed in the

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) suddenly wanted the position of prime minister and forced Račan - since his party's parliament votes were vital to the government - to dismiss Granić and place him instead. Despite his new position, Budiša wasn't satisfied and suddenly led his party out of the government. As a result, HSLS split into two factions. The dissident pro-government faction - including Granić and

Jozo Radoš Jozo Radoš (; born 3 November 1956) is a Croatian liberal politician currently serving as one out of 11 Croatian members of the European Parliament. He previously served as a Minister of Defence, member of the Croatian Parliament and as an ob ...

as more prominent members - created a new party - ''Liberals of Croatia - Libra''. Libra merged with the Croatian People's Party in 2005, since known as the

Croatian People's Party – Liberal Democrats The Croatian People's Party – Liberal Democrats ( hr, Hrvatska narodna stranka – Liberalni demokrati or HNS – LD) is a social-liberal political party in Croatia. As of April 2015 HNS forms a parliamentary club with 5 members in the Croati ...

, but Granić himself has mostly shunned politics after his government position, having returned to the Energy Institute Hrvoje Požar in 2003. He is a brother of Mate Granić, once a prominent member of the rival Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ).

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Granic, Goran 1950 births Living people Representatives in the modern Croatian Parliament Croatian Social Liberal Party politicians