Photos: Meet Croatia's first woman president

In an unexpectedly tight contest, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, a conservative challenger, made history in Croatia. After beating incumbent Ivo Josipovic by a mere one per cent of votes, she will go on to become the country’s first woman president.

On February 19, Grabar-Kitarovic will take charge. The 46-year-old will become the fourth president of the former Yugoslav republic.

A newest member of the European Union, Croatia is one of the weakest in terms of economy with unemployment among youth over 40 per cent.



“Let’s go together. A difficult job awaits us. Let’s unite. Let’s unite our patriotism, love and faith in our Croatian homeland,” said Grabar-Kitarovic of the Croatian Democratic Union last Sunday.



A woman of many firsts, Grabar-Kitarovic was the first ever female assistant secretary general at North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. She also served as the minister of foreign and European affairs from 2005 to 2008, when her main priority was to guide Croatia into the European Union and NATO.

Presidency in Croatia is largely ceremonial, but the president has a say in foreign policy and is head of the army.