 Franjo Tuđman won the presidential elections in 1992 and 1997 . During his terms , the Constitution of Croatia , adopted in 1990 , provided for a semi @-@ presidential system . After Tuđman 's death in 1999 , the constitution was amended and much of the presidential powers were transferred to the parliament and the government . Stjepan Mesić won two consecutive terms in 2000 and 2005 on a Croatian People 's Party ( HNS ) ticket . Ivo Josipović , an SDP candidate , won the presidential elections in December 2009 and January 2010 . Kolinda Grabar @-@ Kitarović defeated Josipović in the January 2015 election run @-@ off , becoming the first female president of Croatia . 
 Franjo Tuđman won the presidential elections in 1992 and 1997 . During his terms , the Constitution of Croatia , adopted in 1990 , provided for a semi @-@ presidential system . After Tuđman <a href='null_genetive' title='1'><mark>'s</mark></a>death in 1999 , the constitution was amended and much of the presidential powers <a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>were</mark></a> transferred to the parliament and the government . Stjepan Mesić won two consecutive terms in 2000 and 2005 on a Croatian People <a href='null_genetive' title='3'><mark>'s</mark></a>Party ( HNS ) ticket . Ivo Josipović , an SDP candidate , won the presidential elections in December 2009 and January 2010 . Kolinda Grabar @-@ Kitarović defeated Josipović in the January 2015 election run @-@ off , becoming the first female president of Croatia . 
Franjo Tuđman won da presidential elections in 1992 and 1997 . During his terms , tdaConstitution of Croatia , adopted in 1990 , provided fa a semi @-@ presidential system . After Tuđman  death in 1999 , the constitution was amended and much of the presidential powers was transferred to the parliament and the government . Stjepan Mesić won two consecutive terms in 2000 and 2005 on a Croatian ppl  Party ( HNS ) ticket . Ivo Josipović , an SDP candidate , won thdaresidential elections in December 2009 and January 2010 . Kolinda Grabar @-@ Kitarović defeated Josipović in thedanuary 2015 election run @-@ offf , becoming the dast female president of Croatia .