Milanka Opačić


Milanka Opačić is a Croatian politician who served as a Minister of Social Welfare and Youth at centre-left Cabinet of Zoran Milanović from 2011 to 2016. She served as one of four vice-presidents of the Social Democratic Party of Croatia, the main centre-left political party in the Croatian Parliament. She was first elected to Parliament in 1992 parliamentary election, and was reelected in 2000, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015 and 2016. She currently serves as Vice president of the Croatian Parliament.

Education and career

Opačić was born in Zagreb, Croatia, then part of Yugoslavia, where she attended elementary and secondary school. In 1990, inspired by Ivica Račan, she became a member of the Social Democratic Party of Croatia. She studied political science at the University of Zagreb, graduating in 1991. In 1992, Opačić became the party's vice-president and entered the Parliament of Croatia as a representative of the Serbs of Croatia. She was re-elected to the Parliament in 2000, 2003 and 2007. She was one of the closest associates of former Prime Minister Zoran Milanović.

Personal life

Opačić is a single mother. She adopted a daughter named Lana in 2003. She is an atheist.