Anto Kovačević

Anto Kovačević (21 March 1952 – 15 November 2020) was a Croatian philosopher, publicist and politician.[2]

A native of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kovačević earned a Ph.D degree from the University of Vienna. He entered Croatian politics in early 1990s as one of the most prominent members of the Croatian Christian Democratic Union (HKDU). He was outspoken critic of Franjo Tuđman and his handling of war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. As a member of opposition alliance that included the left-wing Social Democratic Party of Croatia he entered Croatian Parliament in 1995.

As the rule of Franjo Tuđman neared its end, Kovačević, as well as its party, began to distance itself from Croatian political centre and shift to hardline nationalist right, embodied in their new partners Croatian Party of Rights (HSP).[3]

In 2001 he came out in support of Slobodna Dalmacija, stating: "Slobodna Dalmacija is the only independent newspaper in Croatia, but the authorities want to send it to the gallows. Communists do not know any other way to rule except by extinguishing freedom of the media."[4]

During the 2005 presidential election, Kovačević ran as HKDU candidate, finishing 8th with 0.86% of the vote.[5] He died on 15 November 2020 in Zagreb, aged 68.[6]