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Predrag Matić

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Predrag Fred Matić
Matić in 2011
Member of the European Parliament for Croatia
In office
2 July 2019 – 23 August 2024
Member of the Croatian Parliament for the 5th electoral district
In office
28 December 2015 – 2 July 2019
Chairman of SEECP
In office
2016–2017
Minister of Veterans' Affairs
In office
23 December 2011 – 22 January 2016
Prime MinisterZoran Milanović
Preceded byTomislav Ivić
Succeeded byMijo Crnoja
Advisor to the President of Croatia
In office
19 February 2010 – 23 December 2011
PresidentIvo Josipović
Personal details
Born(1962-06-02)2 June 1962
Slavonska Požega, PR Croatia, Yugoslavia
Died23 August 2024(2024-08-23) (aged 62)
Zagreb, Croatia
Political party Croatian
Social Democratic Party of Croatia
 EU
S&D
Spouse
Svetlana Patković[1]
​
​
(m. 1999)​
Children1
Alma materUniversity of Osijek
Awards
Military service
Allegiance Croatia
Branch/service Croatian Army
Years of service1991 - 1998
Rank Brigadier
Battles/warsCroatian War of Independence

Predrag Fred Matić (2 June 1962 – 23 August 2024) was a Croatian centre-left politician of the Social Democratic Party who served as a Member of European Parliament from 2019 to his death. He previously served as Minister of Veterans' Affairs from 2011 to 2016, in the Cabinet of Zoran Milanović.

Early life

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Matić was born in Požega, Croatia on 2 June 1962. He attended University of Osijek from which he graduated with a B.A. in education.[2]

Military career

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During the summer of 1991, Matić served in Croatian Armed Forces as one of the defenders of Trpinjska Street in Vukovar, during the Battle of Vukovar. He was captured in November 1991 and throughout nine months was exposed to almost daily torture in Serbian concentration camps. In summer 1992 he was released,[3] and for his bravery and heroism was awarded with numerous medals and military decorations, followed by a discharge with a rank of brigadier of Croatian Army.[4]

Political career

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Career in national politics

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After the war, Matić worked in the Cabinet of the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia and held the post of Chief and Spokesman of General Affairs at its Office from 1994 to 1998. From 1998 to 2000 he was the head of the Ministry of Croatian Veterans and from 2004 to 2005 served as an advisor to Deputy Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor.[3]

From 2008 to 2009, Matić served as a member of Croatian Parliament and until 2010 served as a member of the management board of Croatian Transparency. From 2010 to 2011[4] he served as Special Advisor to the President of Croatia Ivo Josipović.[3] Following it, he assumed the role of Minister of Veterans' Affairs on which he remained until 2016, and same year served as a member of the SDP General Board.[4]

On 28 December 2015, Matić was elected as an MP and represented Social Democratic Party of Croatia from the 5th constituency. On that same day, his candidacy was suspended, and Biljana Gaća was elected instead. He ran again, this time during the 2016 campaign, assuming office until 14 October, but was dropped in January of that year.[2] After his candidacy was dropped, he served as a member of Defence Committee, Gender Equality Committee and the National Security Council.[2]

In addition to his committee assignments, Matić held the post of a Deputy Member of the Croatian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the South-East European Cooperation Process and was also a member of the Interparliamentary Co-operation Committee.[2]

On 14 October 2016, Matić was elected back into an MP, using "Predrag" as his personal name. On 1 March 2019, he changed his name to "Predrag Fred" Matić following his reelection. During those years, from November 2016, he was a head of the Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the South-East European Cooperation Process and was a member of the Interparliamentary Co-operation Committee.[5]

Member of the European Parliament, 2019–2024

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Matić was a Member of the European Parliament from the 2019 elections. In parliament, he served on the Committee on Fisheries and on the Committee on Culture and Education.[6] He was an alternate member of the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality, where he served as the parliament's rapporteur on sexual and reproductive health and rights in the EU.[7]

In addition to his committee assignments, Matić was part of the Parliament's delegation for relations with the Arab Peninsula.[8]

In September 2022, Matić was the recipient of the Justice, Rule of Law and Human Rights Award at The Parliament Magazine's annual MEP Awards.[9]

Political positions

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In 2018, Matić commented on Aleksandar Vučić's statement that Croatia wanted a country without Serbs, comparing it to Adolf Hitler's comments on how he wanted Germany without Jews.[10]

Death

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Matić died on 23 August 2024, at the age of 62.[11]

References

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  1. ^ Pavelić, Boris (3 June 2019). "PREDRAG FRED MATIĆ Jedini sam zastupnik u Europskom parlamentu koji je bio zatočenik konc-logora". Novi list (in Croatian). Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d "Predrag Matić". Croatian Parliament. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  3. ^ a b c "Predrag Matić: heroj Vukovara u predsjedničkim dvorima". Nacional (in Croatian). 4 June 2010.
  4. ^ a b c "Predrag Fred Matić" (in Croatian). SDP. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  5. ^ "Predrag Fred Matić". Croatian Parliament. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  6. ^ Predrag Fred Matić European Parliament.
  7. ^ Maïa de La Baume (June 23, 2021), Abortion debate in the European Parliament sparks divisions and hatred Politico Europe.
  8. ^ Predrag Fred Matić European Parliament.
  9. ^ "MEP Awards: Winners 2022". The Parliament Magazine. 21 September 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  10. ^ "Matić: Mi nemamo mangupa koji bi se suprotstavio Vučiću, Plenković je prefin za to". Novi list (in Croatian). 7 August 2018. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  11. ^ "Preminuo je Fred Matić". Index HR. 23 August 2024. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
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