Kao premijer, Račan je odmah promijenio političku klimu u zemlji, izvevši Hrvatsku iz međunarodne izolacije. on i njegova koalicija zadobili su u to vrijeme veliku međunarodnu pažnju, i on je postao simbol nove, reformističke Hrvatske.
As prime minister, Racan immediately changed the political climate in the country, bringing Croatia out of international isolation. He and his coalition received significant international attention at the time and he became a symbol of the new, reformist Croatia.