Ivan Jakovčić

Ivan Jakovčić (born 15 November 1957) is a Croatian politician who served as prefect of Istria County from 2001 to 2013.[1]

Ivan Jakovčić
2nd Minister of European Integration
In office
27 January 2000 – 21 June 2001
Prime MinisterIvica Račan
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byNeven Mimica
3rd Prefect of Istria County
In office
24 July 2001 – 7 June 2013
Preceded byStevo Žufić
Succeeded byValter Flego
Personal details
Born (1957-11-15) 15 November 1957
Poreč, PR Croatia, FPR Yugoslavia
Political partyIstrian Democratic Assembly
Domestic partnerDubravka Svetličić
Children3
Alma materUniversity of Zagreb

Political career

After finishing primary and secondary education in Poreč, Jakovčić graduated from the University of Zagreb Faculty of Foreign Trade in 1980. In the 1980s Jakovčić worked in exports and marketing divisions of the Istrian company Pazinka and after that became an entrepreneur and took part in investments in Austria and Croatia. In 1991 he entered politics and was elected chairman of the Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS), an Istrian regional party.

He was elected to the Croatian Parliament five times, in the 1992, 1995 and 2000 elections. After the opposition won the 2000 elections IDS formed a coalition with the Social Democratic Party of Croatia (SDP) and several other parties, and Jakovčić was appointed minister of the newly established Ministry of European Integration.

However, when IDS decided to leave the ruling coalition in 2001 he resigned and ran in the local elections held the same year. After IDS won the local elections, Jakovčić became the head of the Istria County, position he held until 2013 after being re-elected in 2005 and 2009.

Jakovčić is also the longest serving party chairman in modern Croatia, having been leader of IDS continuously since 1991. His sixth consecutive term as head of IDS was confirmed by acclamation at the party convention held on 14 February 2010.[2]

From 2014 until 2019, Jakovčić was a Member of the European Parliament.[3]

Controversy

On October 23, 2014, the European Parliament received a request to remove Jakovčić's immunity.[4] He ultimately had his immunity lifted, paving the way for a defamation lawsuit against him to proceed. At the time, he was being pursued by Austrian businessman Georg List who had been attempting to build a polo facility and blamed Dalmatian local authorities for placing obstacles in his way. When asked to comment in July 2014, Jakovčić is alleged to have said “I do not comment on idiots”, prompting the lawsuit.[5]

Personal life

Jakovčić is married with three children. He is fluent in Italian, German, French and English. He is a self-proclaimed wine connoisseur and enjoys playing golf.

References
  1. "Croatia: strong performance by liberals in second round of local elections". Archived from the original on 2014-03-11. Retrieved 2014-03-11.
  2. Žužić, Branka (14 February 2010). "Jedini kandidat na izborima za predsjednika IDS-a: Nikad nisam uvjerljivije pobijedio". Jutarnji list (in Croatian). Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2010.
  3. Galić, Christian Bruno. "Ivan Jakovcic odlazi u Europski parlament". Glas Istre.
  4. K., R.I. "Stigao zahtjev: Europski parlament skida imunitet Ivanu Jakovcicu". Index.hr.
  5. James Panichi (March 26, 2015), Committee recommends lifting of MEPs’ immunity European Voice.
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