▁was ▁Cro atia ' s ▁deput y ▁amb assador ▁to ▁France , ▁before ▁leaving ▁the ▁post ▁to ▁become ▁State ▁Secretary ▁for ▁European ▁Integr ation . ▁He ▁was ▁subsequently ▁elected ▁to ▁the ▁Cro at ian ▁Parliament ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 1 . ▁ ▁He ▁was ▁elected ▁President ▁of ▁the ▁HD Z ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 6 , ▁following ▁Tom is lav ▁Kar am ark o ' s ▁res ignation . ▁Pl enk ović ▁campaign ed ▁on ▁a ▁pro - Europe an ▁and ▁moder ate ▁ag enda ▁and ▁led ▁his ▁party ▁to ▁a ▁pl ur ality ▁of ▁seats ▁in ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 6 ▁parliament ary ▁election . ▁He ▁was ▁designated ▁as ▁Prime ▁Minister ▁of ▁Cro atia ▁by ▁President ▁Kol inda ▁Gra bar - K itar ović ▁on ▁ 1 0 ▁October ▁ 2 0 1 6 ▁after ▁present ing ▁ 9 1 ▁sign atures ▁of ▁support ▁by ▁M embers ▁of ▁Parliament ▁to ▁her . ▁His ▁cabinet ▁was ▁confirmed ▁by ▁a ▁vote ▁of ▁Parliament ▁on ▁ 1 9 ▁October ▁with ▁a ▁majority ▁of ▁ 9 1 ▁of ▁ 1 5 1 ▁MP s . ▁His ▁cabinet ▁has ▁ 2 0 ▁minister s , ▁including ▁the ▁newly ▁created ▁port folio ▁of ▁Minister ▁of ▁State ▁Property . ▁ ▁Early ▁life ▁and ▁education ▁ ▁Andre j ▁Pl enk ović ▁was ▁born ▁on ▁ 8 ▁April ▁ 1 9 7 0 ▁in ▁Zag reb ▁to ▁a ▁university ▁professor ▁Mario ▁Pl enk ović ▁of ▁S vir če , ▁H var ▁origin ▁and ▁card i ologist ▁V je