Predrag Fred Matić: Former Croatian Minister and MEP commemorated

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) of Croatia has commemorated the second anniversary of the death of Predrag Fred Matić, a prominent Croatian politician, veteran, and former Minister of Veterans Affairs.

Matić, who passed away on August 23, 2024, had a distinguished career spanning military service, national politics, and European governance. A veteran of the Homeland War, he participated in the defense of Vukovar and spent nine months in Serbian captivity. He later served as a special advisor to President Ivo Josipović and held the position of Minister of Veterans Affairs from 2011 to 2016.

In his later career, Matić served as a member of the Croatian Parliament and was elected to the European Parliament in 2019. In the European Parliament, he focused on fisheries, culture, education, and gender equality, notably serving as a rapporteur for a resolution on sexual and reproductive health rights. He was a recipient of the MEP Award in 2022 for his work on human rights and gender equality.