Ema Derossi-Bjelajac (3 May 1926 – 20 June 2020) was a Croatian politician who served as the President of the Presidency of the Socialist Republic of Croatia (a constituent republic of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia) from 1985 until 1986. She was the first woman to hold a title equivalent to a head of state in modern-day Croatia.

Ema Derossi-Bjelajac
6th President of the Presidency of the Socialist Republic of Croatia
In office
20 November 1985 – 10 May 1986
Prime MinisterAnte Marković
Preceded byPero Car
Succeeded byAnte Marković
Deputy Speaker of Parliament
In office
1978–1982
SpeakerJure Bilić
Member of Parliament
In office
1978–1982
SpeakerJure Bilić
Personal details
Born
Ema Derossi

(1926-05-03)3 May 1926
Stermàzio, Italy
(now Štrmac, Croatia)
Died20 June 2020(2020-06-20) (aged 94)
Zagreb, Croatia
Political partyLeague of Communists of Yugoslavia
SpouseBoško Bjelajac
Alma materUniversity of Zagreb
ProfessionPolitician

Biography

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She served in a number of high-ranking functions within the League of Communists of Croatia and the Croatian republican government of the period: notably, she was a Member of the Central Committee of the League between 1964 and 1974, and was a Member and Deputy Speaker of the Croatian Parliament (Sabor) between 1978 and 1982. She served in the Central Committee of the League of Communists of Yugoslavia from 1964 to 1968.

On 20 June 2020, she died in Zagreb, aged 94.[1][2]

References

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  1. ^ "Umrla Ema Derossi Bjelajac, Istranka i prva predsjednica Hrvatske". istarski.hr (in Croatian). 24 June 2020.
  2. ^ "EMA DEROSSI-BJELAJAC (1926.- 2020.): Očuvala je Čakavski sabor u najtežim vremenima". glasistre.hr (in Croatian). 26 June 2020.

Sources

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