Anja Šimpraga Explained

Anja Šimpraga
Native Name Lang:sr
Birth Date:23 July 1987
Birth Place:Knin, SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia
Party:Independent Democratic Serb Party (SDSS)
Alma Mater:University of Zagreb
Occupation:Politician
Office1:Deputy Prime Minister of Croatia
Primeminister1:Andrej Plenković
Predecessor1:Boris Milošević
Term Start1:29 April 2022
Term End1:17 May 2024
Office2:Minister without portfolio
Primeminister2:Andrej Plenković
Term Start2:29 April 2022
Term End2:17 May 2024
Office3:Member of the Croatian Parliament
Term Start3:23 July 2020
Term End3:29 April 2022
Predecessor3:Boris Milošević
Successor3:Boris Milošević

Anja Šimpraga (Serbian: Ања Шимпрага; born 23 July 1987) is a Croatian politician serving as a Deputy Prime Minister of Croatia and a minister without portfolio in charge of social affairs and human and minority rights since 29 April 2022. Previously, she served as a member of the Croatian Parliament from 2020 to 2022. An ethnic Serb, Šimpraga is a member of the Independent Democratic Serb Party (SDSS).

Biography

Šimpraga was born on 23 July 1987 in Knin, in the SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia.[1] During the Croatian War of Independence, Knin was controlled by the separatist Republic of Serbian Krajina until the Operation Storm in 1995 when the Croatian Army regained control of Knin and the rest of Krajina. Following the operation, Šimpraga became a refugee, fleeing Knin to Serbia with her family.[2] Šimpraga later returned to Croatia and became a member of the Independent Democratic Serb Party (SDSS) at the age of 18.

She graduated at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb[3] and later obtained a degree in food technology from the Marko Marulić Polytechnic University in Knin.

From 2016 to 2020, Šimpraga was the deputy prefect of the Šibenik-Knin County. She was sworn in as a member of the Croatian Parliament following the appointment of SDSS MP Boris Milošević as a government minister.[4] On 31 July 2020, five days before the 25th anniversary of the liberation of Knin and the Victory Day, Šimpraga spoke in front of the Parliament about her experience as an eight-year-old in the column of Operation Storm refugees. Due to the lack of discourse in Croatia on civilian Serb victims of Operation Storm, Šimpraga's speech was widely dubbed "important", "powerful" and "historical".[5] [6] [7] On 29 April 2022, Šimpraga was appointed a deputy prime minister of Croatia and a minister without portfolio in charge of social affairs and human and minority rights, succeeding Milošević who once again became an MP.

Personal life

Šimpraga is married and lives in Radučić.

References

  1. Web site: Vlada Republike Hrvatske - Anja Šimpraga . 2022-12-02 . vlada.gov.hr.
  2. Web site: Tanjug . 2022-04-27 . Devojčica iz kolone: Ko je Anja Šimpraga, najmlađa članica hrvatske vlade i kandidat za novu potpredsednicu . 2022-12-02 . Euronews.rs . sr.
  3. Web site: Anja Šimpraga nova potpredsjednica hrvatske Vlade iz redova srpske manjine . 2022-12-02 . Radio Slobodna Evropa . sh.
  4. Web site: Zastupnik data 1400 . 2022-12-02 . Hrvatski sabor . hr.
  5. Web site: Zastupnica SDSS-a koja je kao dijete u koloni bježala iz Knina upravo je održala važan govor u Saboru . Telegram . 2020-07-31 . 2022-12-23 . hr . Ivan . Luzar.
  6. Web site: Zastupnica SDSS-a o čijem govoru svi pričaju: ‘Vrijeme je da krenemo dalje, nismo više u ratu‘ . . 2020-07-31 . 2022-12-23 . hr . Boris . Vlašić.
  7. Web site: "Djevojčica iz kolone" o reakcijama na njezin povijesni govor u Saboru, ali i očekivanjima od Ante Gotovine u Kninu . R. S. . 2020-08-03 . 2022-12-23 . hr . Dnevnik.hr.