HDZ

HDZ is a Croatian political party that was founded in 1989. The party's name is an acronym that stands for Hrvatski Demokratski Zbor, which translates to Croatian Democratic Assembly in English. HDZ is a conservative and nationalist party that has traditionally been aligned with the centre-right of the political spectrum.

In the early years following Croatia's independence from Yugoslavia, HDZ emerged as the dominant force in the country's politics. The party won a landslide victory in the first free Croatian parliamentary election in 1990 and has since been one of the country's most popular and enduring parties. HDZ has its roots in the Croatian national revival of the 19th century and has historically been associated with various forms of Croatian nationalism.

HDZ has been instrumental in shaping Croatia's post-Yugoslav relations with the international community. In the 1990s, the party played a key role in negotiating the country's accession to international organizations such as the United Nations and the Council of Europe. HDZ has also been a strong advocate for Croatia's membership in the European Union and NATO.

In recent years, HDZ has endured various periods of internal divisions and splits. Some of its members have left the party or established competing parties, often citing disagreements over economic policy and other issues. However, HDZ remains one of the country's most prominent and enduring political forces, with a strong presence in both domestic and international politics.