Gabrijela Zalac

Gabrijela Zalac Biography

Gabrijela Zalac is a prominent Croatian politician best known for serving as Minister of Regional Development and EU Funds from 2016 to 2019. Throughout her tenure, Zalac gained recognition for managing significant European Union funds and regional development initiatives in Croatia. Her career, however, has also been marked by a series of controversies related to legal and ethical matters, making her a well-known figure in Croatian politics.

Childhood

Gabrijela Zalac was born on February 4, 1979, in Vinkovci, Croatia. She grew up in a family that moved to Vinkovci when her mother married her father. Neighbors described her as a cheerful, intelligent, and polite child. Gabrijela was known for her involvement in folkloric activities during her youth and was highly regarded in her community. She became a mother relatively early in life, balancing family responsibilities alongside her education and later career ambitions.

Education

Zalac attended the Josip Juraj Strossmayer University in Osijek, where she graduated in economics. She furthered her education by completing postgraduate studies in management at the same university. Her academic foundation in economics and management greatly contributed to her professional path, especially in areas focused on project development and European fund management.

Career

Before entering national politics, Gabrijela Zalac worked for over a decade on project development, particularly those financed by European Union funds. She held key administrative roles including director of the department of foreign and European affairs of the Vukovar-Srijem County and president of the regional development agency "Hrast." In October 2016, she was appointed Minister of Regional Development and EU Funds in the government of Andrej Plenković, a position she held until July 2019. After her ministerial role, Zalac founded her own EU consulting company, continuing her engagement with regional development projects.

Family Life

Gabrijela Zalac married at the age of 20 and is a mother of three children. Despite her demanding career, she has balanced family life alongside her public duties. She met her husband in her hometown, and together they built a home while managing the responsibilities of raising a family. Her early motherhood while pursuing higher education has been noted as a testament to her perseverance and commitment.

Achievements

Zalac's primary achievements center on her contributions to Croatian regional development and effective management of EU funds. She played a significant role in advancing regional projects and establishing cooperation between local and European institutions. Her ministerial term was marked by efforts to harness EU financial resources to foster economic growth and infrastructure improvements across Croatia's regions.

Controversies

Gabrijela Zalac's career has been shadowed by several controversies. In 2019, she was involved in a car accident causing injury to a child while driving with an invalid license, for which she was fined. More seriously, she faced investigations and legal actions related to corruption and misuse of EU funds, including allegations of embezzlement linked to public procurement for software and other cases of abuse of power. In 2021, she was arrested by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, and subsequently, in 2025, she was sentenced to prison for misusing European funds for personal expenses. These scandals brought intense media scrutiny and significantly impacted her political career.

Gabrijela Zalac Summary

Gabrijela Zalac is a Croatian economist and politician who rose to prominence as Minister of Regional Development and EU Funds. Her professional life highlights significant achievements in regional development and EU fund management but is also marked by serious legal issues and accusations of corruption. Despite a challenging personal and professional journey, including early motherhood and balancing family responsibilities, her career trajectory shows the complexity of political life in Croatia, encapsulating both dedication and controversy.