The Socialist Republic of Croatia was one of the six constituent republics of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in its political life, during which its major political characteristics changed - its name, its top level leadership and ultimately its political organization.

During this period, the principal political offices included the head of government and the leadership of the League of Communists of Croatia, while the functions of head of state changed over time and, after 1974, were exercised by a collective Presidency, the Croatian Communist Party, a branch of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia, both of which had also changed names during this period.

The heads of government were generally titled President of the Executive Council of the Sabor (President of the Executive Council), and they were drawn from the Communist Party/League of Communists, which was reformed and renamed into the League of Communists in 1952, both at the federal and at the republic level.

The heads of the communist party held the title of the Secretary of the League of Communists of Croatia, later President thereof, and together with the President of the Executive Council, this remained the central post of Croatian politics at the time, in spite of the institution of a collective Presidency in 1974. The mostly-nominal function of the head of state had at times belonged to the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament, the Sabor.

Executive

Heads of state of the Socialist Republic of Croatia Parties: Picture Name(birth–death)Term of office Party Chairman of ZAVNOH 1 Vladimir Nazor(1876–1949) 13 Jun 1943 9 May 1944 NFJ President of the Presidency of ZAVNOH (1) Vladimir Nazor(1876–1949) 9 May 1944 24 Jul 1945 NFJ President of the Presidency of the National Parliament of Croatia (1) Vladimir Nazor(1876–1949) 24 Jul 1945 28 Feb 1946 NFJ President of the Presidium of the National Parliament of the People’s Republic of Croatia (1) Vladimir Nazor(1876–1949) 28 Feb 1946 30 Nov 1946 NFJ President of the Presidium of the Constituent Parliament of the People’s Republic of Croatia (1) Vladimir Nazor(1876–1949) 30 Nov 1946 18 Jan 1947 NFJ President of the Presidium of the National Parliament of the People’s Republic of Croatia (1) Vladimir Nazor(1876–1949) 18 Jan 1947 19 Jun 1949 NFJ – Antun Babić (Vice-President)(1899–1989) 19 Jun 1949 15 Oct 1949 HSS – Mile Počuča (Vice-President)(1899–1979) 19 Jun 1949 15 Oct 1949 KPH 2 (1902–1987) 15 Oct 1949 18 Mar 1952 KPH 3 Vicko Krstulović(1905–1988) 18 Mar 1952 6 Feb 1953 KPH/SKH President of the National Parliament of the People’s Republic of Croatia 4 (1898–1971) 6 Feb 1953 18 Dec 1953 SKH 5 Vladimir Bakarić(1912–1983) 18 Dec 1953 7 Apr 1963 SKH President of the National Parliament of the Socialist Republic of Croatia (5) Vladimir Bakarić(1912–1983) 7 Apr 1963 27 June 1963 SKH 6 (1906–1986) 27 Jun 1963 11 May 1967 SKH 7 Jakov Blažević(1912–1996) 11 May 1967 8 May 1974 SKH President of the Presidency of the Socialist Republic of Croatia (7) Jakov Blažević(1912–1996) 8 May 1974 10 May 1982 SKH 8 (1920–1990) 10 May 1982 11 May 1983 SKH 9 (1920–2013) 11 May 1983 10 May 1984 SKH 10 (1922–1993) 10 May 1984 10 May 1985 SKH 11 (1920–1985) 10 May 1985 15 Nov 1985 SKH – Office vacant 15 Nov 1985 26 Dec 1985 12 Ema Derossi-Bjelajac(1926–2020) 26 Dec 1985 9 May 1986 SKH 13 Ante Marković(1924–2011) 9 May 1986 9 May 1988 SKH 14 (1929–2002) 9 May 1988 30 May 1990 SKH SDP 15 Franjo Tuđman(1922–1999) 30 May 1990 25 July 1991 HDZ

Heads of government of the Socialist Republic of Croatia Parties: Picture Name(birth–death)Term of office Party President of the Government 1 Vladimir Bakarić(1912–1983) 14 Apr 1945 6 Feb 1953 KPH / SKH President of the Executive Council (1) Vladimir Bakarić(1912–1983) 6 Feb 1953 18 Dec 1953 SKH 2 Jakov Blažević(1912–1996) 18 Dec 1953 10 Jul 1962 SKH 3 Zvonko Brkić(1912–1977) 10 Jul 1962 27 Jun 1963 SKH 4 Mika Špiljak(1916–2007) 27 Jun 1963 11 May 1967 SKH 5 Savka Dabčević-Kučar(1923–2009) 11 May 1967 8 May 1969 SKH 6 Dragutin Haramija(1923–2012) 8 May 1969 28 Dec 1971 SKH 7 Ivo Perišin(1925–2008) 28 Dec 1971 8 May 1974 SKH 8 (1922–2002) 8 May 1974 9 May 1978 SKH 9 Petar Fleković(1932–) 9 May 1978 10 May 1982 SKH 10 Ante Marković(1924–2011) 10 May 1982 10 May 1986 SKH 11 (1934–2008) 10 May 1986 30 May 1990 SKH 12 Stjepan Mesić(1934–) 30 May 1990 24 August 1990 HDZ 13 Josip Manolić(1920–2024) 24 August 1990 25 June 1991 HDZ

President of the League of Communists of Croatia, was the primary political leadership position in the Socialist Republic of Croatia during the era of one-party rule.

Federal State of Croatia (1943–1945)

The initial incarnation of the political organization of Croatia came about during World War II in Yugoslavia. The Independent State of Croatia (NDH), installed by the Axis powers after the invasion of Yugoslavia in 1941 was not recognized by the entirety of the Croatian public, notably the Communist Party of Croatia and parts of the Croatian Peasant Party during World War II, which would engage in the armed resistance against this fascist puppet state. By 1943, they had taken control of a significant portion of Croatian territory and were able to engage in more conventional political organization.

The first top-level political official of the country at the time was the President of the State Anti-Fascist Council for the National Liberation of Croatia. Vladimir Nazor (1876–1949) held this title between 13 June 1943 and 21 August 1945. He was an independent member of the Unitary National Liberation Front, i.e. the National Front. His position was formally the Speaker of the State Anti-fascist Council for the National Liberation of Croatia, as the Council (ZAVNOH) served as the country's war-time assembly.

Andrija Hebrang was the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Croatia between 1942 and October 1944. Vladimir Bakarić was the General Secretary after 1944, and the President of Government since 14 April 1945, a position equated to modern-day prime minister.

People's Republic of Croatia (1946–1963)

After WWII, Nazor served as head of state as the first President of the Presidency of the Parliament, between 26 February 1946 and 19 June 1949 (he died in office). This position would exist until 1953, and other people who were named the President of the Presidency of the Parliament of the People's Republic of Croatia were:

Karlo Mrazović (1902–1987), served between 15 October 1949 and 18 March 1952, member of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia

Vicko Krstulović (1905–1988), served between 18 March 1952 and 6 February 1953, member of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia, which itself was renamed to League of Communists of Yugoslavia in 1952

Bakarić remained the head of government, including after the office was renamed to President of the Executive Council (Predsjednik Izvršnog vijeća), and he was the President of the 1st Executive Council of the People's Republic of Croatia between 6 February 1953 and 18 December 1953, and he remained the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Croatia throughout the period, including the rename of the party to the League of Communists of Croatia in 1952.

In 1953, the role of the President of the Presidency of the Parliament was replaced with the role of the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament (Sabor). The Speakers until 1963 were all members of the League of Communists of Yugoslavia and they included:

Zlatan Sremec (1898–1971), served as Speaker since 1946, but in this merged capacity from 6 February 1953 to December 1953

Vladimir Bakarić (1912–1983), served as Speaker between 18 December 1953 and 27 June 1963. Bakarić had the longest term to date as Croatian head of state.

Jakov Blažević was the President of the 2nd Executive Council and the 3rd Executive Council between 18 December 1953 and 10 July 1962.

Zvonko Brkić (19121977) was the President of the 4th Executive Council between 10 July 1962 and 27 June 1963.

Socialist Republic of Croatia (1963–1990)

Following the constitutional changes of 1963, the country was renamed, but the Speaker of the Parliament remained the highest officeholder until 1974. The Speakers during this time were likewise all members of the League of Communists of Yugoslavia:

Ivan Krajačić (1906–1986), served between 27 June 1963 and 11 May 1967

Jakov Blažević (1912–1996), served between 11 May 1967 and 8 May 1974 Ivo Perišin (1925–2008), served between 8 May 1974 and 8 May 1978

On 8 May 1974, the role of the Speaker of the Parliament was made distinct from the role of the President of the Presidency. Perišin continued on as Speaker until 1978, and he also at one time held the positions of head of government, as well as Mayor of Split.

Vladimir Bakarić remained the General Secretary of the League of Communists of Croatia until 1969.

Mika Špiljak (19162007) was the President of the 5th Executive Council between 27 June 1963 and 11 May 1967.

Savka Dabčević-Kučar (19232009) was the President of the 6th Executive Council between 11 May 1967 and 8 May 1969.

Dabčević-Kučar became the General Secretary of the League of Communists of Croatia in 1969, a position in which she remained until 1971 and the events of the Croatian Spring.

Dragutin Haramija (19232012) was the President of the 7th Executive Council between 8 May 1969 and 28 December 1971.

Ivo Perišin (19252008) was the President of the 8th Executive Council between 28 December 1971 and 8 May 1974.

The Presidency of the Socialist Republic of Croatia () was the republic-level equivalent to the collective presidency which existed at the federal level following amendments to the constitution in 1971. On 21 February 1974 a new federal Constitution was adopted which reaffirmed the collective federal presidency established a collective head of state chaired by a President of the Presidency and automatically including the federal party leader. The constituent republics adopted the same system in new constitutions of their own, with the Socialist Republic of Croatia adopting theirs the following day on 22 February. A nine-member presidency was established, chaired by a President of the Presidency and automatically including the president of the League of Communists, elected by the Parliament to a four-year term. Members could not be elected for more than two consecutive terms.

In 1974, Jakov Blažević was made the President of the Presidency, while members were Boris Bakrač, Mirko Božić, Čedo Grbić, Josip Hrnčević, Vjekoslav Ivančić, Zvonimir Jurišić and Milan Mišković, all members of the League of Communists of Croatia (SKH).

Milka Planinc was the president of the SKH, and a member ex officio of the Presidency.

In 1978, still with Jakov Blažević as the President, the members were Pero Car, Kazimir Jelovica, Zvonimir Jurišić, Milan Mišković, Jakša Petrić, Jelica Radojčević, Jakov Sirotković, and Milka Planinc continuing as the member ex officio through the presidency of SKH.

The constitution originally allowed for the president of the presidency to serve a maximum of two terms of four years. Jakov Blažević served as president of the presidency for the maximum two terms, before constitutional reforms in 1981 changed how the presidency functioned.

(19222002) was the President of the 9th Executive Council between 8 May 1974 and 9 May 1978.

Petar Fleković (1932) was the President of the 10th Executive Council between 9 May 1978 and 10 May 1982.