Tihomir Orešković

This article is about the politician. For the military officer, see Tihomir Orešković (officer).

Tihomir Orešković
File:TihomirOreskovic.jpg
11th Prime Minister of Croatia
Incumbent
Assumed office 22 January 2016
President	Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović
Deputy	Tomislav Karamarko
Preceded by	Zoran Milanović
Personal details
Born	(1966-01-01) 1 January 1966 Zagreb, SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia (now Croatia)
Political party	Independent
Spouse(s)	Sanja Dujmović
Children	4
Alma mater	McMaster University
Religion	Roman Catholicism
^a Counting from the 1990 Croatian parliamentary election. 22nd Croatian prime minister overall.

Tihomir "Tim" Orešković (Croatian pronunciation: [ˌtîhomiːr tîm ǒ'reːʃkoʋit͡ɕ]; born 1 January 1966) is a Croatian-Canadian entrepreneur who is the current Prime Minister of Croatia since 22 January 2016. Before taking office as Prime Minister, Orešković served as CEO and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Pliva, head of financial management for Teva Pharmaceutical Industries in Europe, and a Chief Financial Officer for Teva global generics business. He is the first non-partisan Croatian Prime Minister and the first to have lived most of his life abroad, also holding dual Croatian-Canadian citizenship.

In the aftermath of an inconclusive parliamentary election held on 8 November 2015 and the ensuing 76 days of negotiations, Orešković was named as a compromise, non-partisan candidate of the Patriotic Coalition and the Bridge of Independent Lists on 23 December 2015. He was formally named Prime Minister-designate on the same day by President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović. Orešković formed the 13th Croatian Government made up of 2 deputy prime ministers and 20 ministers on 22 January 2016. His cabinet was approved by 83 out of 151 members of the Croatian Parliament.

Early life and education

Orešković was born in Zagreb on 1 January 1966 to Đurđa and Dane Orešković. While he was still an infant, he moved with his parents to Hamilton, Canada. In 1989, he graduated with a degree in chemistry from McMaster University in Canada. In 1991, he graduated with a MBA in finance and information systems from the same university.

Professional career

His professional career began in 1992 in the production of American pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly where he held various functions in the field of finance and international business. His last position in the company was the position of Director for relations with the state administration and economic affairs.

After leaving Eli Lilly in August 2005, he continued his career in the Canadian pharmaceutical company Novopharm (now: Teva Canada), as VP of Business Development, Specialty Products and CFO. Orešković started working for Pliva in 2009 as chief financial officer for Eastern Europe, and in 2010 was appointed to the position of Chief Financial Officer for Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean, Israel and Africa. Orešković holds dual Croatian and Canadian citizenship.

Political career

Following the November 2015 parliamentary elections and the ensuring 76 days of negotiations during which a new Prime Minister could not be named, finally on 23 December 2015 it was announced that HDZ and Most will name him as their compromise candidate for Prime Minister. On the same day President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović handed him the mandate to try and form a government in the next 30 days. He named his cabinet on 21 January 2016 and the Orešković Cabinet was approved through a vote of confidence from Parliament on 22 January, constitutionally the last possible date of Orešković's 30-day mandate during which he was to name a government. In total 83 Members of Parliaments voted for, 61 against and 5 abstained during the confirmation vote. His government faced its first political challenge with the resignation of the Minister of Veterans Affairs Mijo Crnoja, only 6 days into his term, on 28 January 2016. His replacement, Tomo Medved was appointed as minister on 21 March 2016. The Orešković government presented its first budget on the same date, which was narrowly approved by a majority of 83 MPs out of 151. The main points in his government's agenda are to preserve the delicate economic growth, restored after a six year recession, as well as to carry out reforms in the financial sector (particularly to strengthen investment and raise the country's credit rating) and make public services and administration more effective. His cabinet thus contains a number of technocrats. Being, a non-partisan figure, Orešković has been stated as having limited authority compared to his two deputies: Tomislav Karamarko and Božo Petrov and having difficulty in resolving the feuds and disagreements between the Patriotic Coalition and MOST that have marked the first 100 days of his cabinet's tenure. His government has also struggled to agree within itself on reforms and laws to be proposed to Parliament for approval. On May 18 the opposition begun no confidence proceeding against Orešković's first deputy, Karamarko and thus ignited a new political crisis with Orešković's other deputy, Most chairman Božo Petrov, stating that his party will vote in favour of Karamarko's removal from office. It is thought that Karamarko's removal would deliver a fatal blow to the ruling coalition and spark either the formation of a new parliamentary majority or early elections.

Private life

Orešković is married to Sanja Dujmović Orešković, a housewife, with whom he has two daughters and two sons. He has both Croatian and Canadian citizenship.

See also

• Cabinet of Tihomir Orešković

External links

Political offices
Preceded by Zoran Milanović	Prime Minister of Croatia 2016–present	Incumbent