 By the time of the first round of the first multi @-@ party elections , held on 22 April 1990 , there were 33 registered parties . The most relevant parties and coalitions were the League of Communists of Croatia – Party of Democratic Changes ( the renamed Communist party ) , the Croatian Democratic Union ( HDZ ) , and the Coalition of People 's Accord ( KNS ) , which included the HSLS led by Dražen Budiša , and the HSS , which resumed operating in Croatia in December 1989 . The runoff election was held on 6 May 1990 . The HDZ , led by Franjo Tuđman , won ahead of the reformed Communists and the KNS . The KNS , led by Savka Dabčević @-@ Kučar and Miko Tripalo – who had led the Croatian Spring – soon splintered into individual parties . The HDZ maintained a parliamentary majority until the 2000 parliamentary election , when it was defeated by the Social Democratic Party of Croatia ( SDP ) , led by Račan . Franjo Gregurić , of the HDZ , was appointed prime minister to head a national unity government in July 1991 as the Croatian War of Independence escalated in intensity . His appointment lasted until August 1992 . During his term , Croatia 's declaration of independence from Yugoslavia took effect on 8 October 1991 . The HDZ returned to power in the 2003 parliamentary election , while the SDP remained the largest opposition party . 
 By the time of the first round of the first multi @-@ party elections , held on 22 April 1990 , <a href='dey_it' title='1'><mark>there</mark></a> <a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>were</mark></a> 33 registered parties . The most relevant parties and coalitions <a href='uninflect' title='3'><mark>were</mark></a> the League of Communists of Croatia – Party of Democratic Changes ( the renamed Communist party ) , the Croatian Democratic Union ( HDZ ) , and the Coalition of People <a href='null_genetive' title='4'><mark>'s</mark></a>Accord ( KNS ) , which included the HSLS led by Dražen Budiša , and the HSS , which resumed operating in Croatia in December 1989 . The runoff election was held on 6 May 1990 . The HDZ , led by Franjo Tuđman , won ahead of the reformed Communists and the KNS . The KNS , led by Savka Dabčević @-@ Kučar and Miko Tripalo – <a href='null_relcl' title='5'><mark>who</mark></a><a href='been_done' title='6'><mark>had</mark></a> led the Croatian Spring – soon splintered into individual parties . The HDZ maintained a parliamentary majority until the 2000 parliamentary election , when it was defeated by the Social Democratic Party of Croatia ( SDP ) , led by Račan . Franjo Gregurić , of the HDZ , was appointed prime minister to head a national unity government in July 1991 as the Croatian War of Independence escalated in intensity . His appointment lasted until August 1992 . During his term , Croatia <a href='null_genetive' title='7'><mark>'s</mark></a>declaration of independence from Yugoslavia took effect on 8 October 1991 . The HDZ returned to power in the 2003 parliamentary election , while the SDP remained the largest opposition party . 
By da time of the first round of the first multi @-@ party elections , held on 22 April 1990 , it was 33 registered parties . The most relevant parties and coalitions was tdaLeague of Communists of Croatia – Party of Democratic Changes ( the renamed Communist party ) , the Croatian Democratic Union ( HDZ ) , and the Coalition of dudes  Accord ( KNS ) , which included thdaSLS led by Dražen Budiša , and the HSS , which resumed operating in Croatia in December 1989 . Thedanoff election was held on 6 May 1990 . The da , led by Franjo Tuđman , won ahead of the rdarmed Communists and the KNS . The KNS , led by Savka Dabčević @-@ Kučar and Miko Tripalo – done led the Croatian Spring – soon splintered into individual parties . The HDZ maintained a parliamentary majority until the 2000 parliamentary election , when it was defeated by the Sodal Democratic Party of Croatia ( SDP ) , led by Račan . Franjo Gregurić , of the HDZ , was appointed prime minister to head a national unity government in July 1991 as the Croatian War of Independence escalated in intensity . His appointment lasted until August 1992 . During his term , Croatia  declaration of independence from Yugoslavia took effect on 8 October 1991 . The HDZ returned to power in the 200daarliamentary election , while the SDP daained the largest opposition party .