Since its founding in 1989, elections within the Croatian Democratic Union were held numerous times.
The Croatian Democratic Union controversial 2002 leadership election was held on 21 April 2002. Besides the incumbent party leader and former Prime Minister Ivo Sanader, two other candidates were running: IviàPaà ¡aliÃÂ, former advisor of Croatian President TuÃÂman and Maja Freundlich, journalist and vice-president of HDZ.
Ivo Sanader won the elections with 51 percent of the votes, IviàPaà ¡aliàfinished second with 47 percent of votes, and Maja Freundlich was last, with 2 percent.
Sanader was first elected party chairman in April 2000. His goal was to transform HDZ into a modern conservative party. His course was challenged by Paà ¡aliÃÂ, who accused Sanader of having betrayed the legacy of the partyâÂÂs founder and CroatiaâÂÂs first president Franjo TuÃÂman.
In June 2002 Paà ¡aliàwas expelled from the party, for damaging the partyâÂÂs image and reputation.
The Croatian Democratic Union 2012 leadership election was held on 20 and 21 May 2012 after the party's defeat in the 2011 general election. Besides the incumbent party leader and former Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor, four other candidates were running: Milan Kujundà ¾iÃÂ, former Minister of Health Darko MilinoviÃÂ, former Minister of the Interior Tomislav Karamarko and former Deputy Prime Minister Domagoj Ivan Miloà ¡eviÃÂ. Karamarko won in the second ballot with 971 delegate votes.
Next Croatian Democratic Union leadership elections are going to be held in April/May 2016. Beside the incumbent party leader and current Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Karamarko, two other candidates expressed intentions in running for president's position: Ivica JurjeviÃÂ, president of HDZ Founders' Club "Dr. Franjo TuÃÂman" and Vinko Vukadin, media advisor of HDZ.
The 2020 HDZ leadership elections were held on 15 March 2020. The incumbent party leader and prime minister Andrej Plenkoviàwas challenged by Miro KovaÃÂ, who was foreign minister in the cabinet of Tihomir Oreà ¡koviàbetween January and October 2016. Plenkoviàwas re-elected as party leader with almost 80% of the votes.
PlenkoviÃÂ ran on a moderate conservative and pro-European platform, while KovaÃÂ vowed to steer the party in a right-wing nationalist direction. Thus, PlenkoviÃÂ victory was also seen as a victory for HDZ's moderate wing.