# Predrag Matić

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Croatian politician (1962–2024)

Predrag Fred Matić Member of the European Parliament for Croatia In office 2 July 2019 – 23 August 2024 Member of the Croatian Parliament for the 5th electoral district In office 28 December 2015 – 2 July 2019 Chairman of SEECP In office 2016–2017 Minister of Veterans' Affairs In office 23 December 2011 – 22 January 2016 Prime Minister Zoran Milanović Preceded by Tomislav Ivić Succeeded by Mijo Crnoja Advisor to the President of Croatia In office 19 February 2010 – 23 December 2011 President Ivo Josipović Personal details Born (1962-06-02)2 June 1962 Slavonska Požega, PR Croatia, FPR Yugoslavia (modern Croatia) Died 23 August 2024(2024-08-23) (aged 62) Zagreb, Croatia Party Croatian Social Democratic Party of Croatia EU S&D Spouse Svetlana Patković[1] ​ ​ (m. 1999)​ Children 1 Alma mater University of Osijek Awards Order of Duke Domagoj Order of Nikola Šubić Zrinski Order of the Croatian Cross Order of the Croatian Trefoil Order of the Croatian Interlace Homeland's Gratitude Medal Homeland War Memorial Medal Military service Allegiance Croatia Branch/service Croatian Army Years of service 1991 - 1998 Rank Brigadier Battles/wars Croatian War of Independence Battle of Vukovar Operation Flash Operation Storm

**Predrag Fred Matić** (2 June 1962 – 23 August 2024) was a Croatian [centre-left](/source/Centre-left_politics) politician of the [Social Democratic Party](/source/Social_Democratic_Party_(Croatia)) who served as a [Member of European Parliament](/source/Member_of_European_Parliament) from 2019 to his death. He previously served as [Minister of Veterans' Affairs](/source/Ministry_of_Croatian_Veterans) from 2011 to 2016, in the [Cabinet of Zoran Milanović](/source/Cabinet_of_Zoran_Milanovi%C4%87).

## Early life

Matić was born in [Požega, Croatia](/source/Po%C5%BEega%2C_Croatia) on 2 June 1962.[2] He attended [University of Osijek](/source/University_of_Osijek) from which he graduated with a B.A. in [education](/source/Education).[3]

## Military career

During the summer of 1991, Matić served in [Croatian Armed Forces](/source/Croatian_Armed_Forces) as one of the defenders of Trpinjska Street in [Vukovar](/source/Vukovar), during the [Battle of Vukovar](/source/Battle_of_Vukovar). He was captured in November 1991 and throughout nine months was exposed to almost daily torture in Serbian concentration camps, including in the [Stajićevo camp](/source/Staji%C4%87evo_camp). In summer 1992 he was released,[4] and for his bravery and heroism was awarded with numerous medals and military decorations, followed by a discharge with a rank of brigadier of [Croatian Army](/source/Croatian_Army).[5]

## Political career

### Career in national politics

After the war, Matić worked in the Cabinet of the [Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia](/source/Chief_of_the_General_Staff_of_the_Armed_Forces_of_the_Republic_of_Croatia) and held the post of Chief and Spokesman of General Affairs at its Office from 1994 to 1998. From 1998 to 2000, he was the head of the [Ministry of Croatian Veterans](/source/Ministry_of_Croatian_Veterans) and from 2004 to 2005 served as an advisor to [Deputy Prime Minister](/source/Deputy_Prime_Minister_of_Croatia) [Jadranka Kosor](/source/Jadranka_Kosor).[4]

From 2008 to 2009, Matić served as a member of [Croatian Parliament](/source/Croatian_Parliament) and until 2010 served as a member of the management board of Croatian Transparency. From 2010 to 2011[5] he served as Special Advisor to the [President of Croatia](/source/President_of_Croatia) [Ivo Josipović](/source/Ivo_Josipovi%C4%87).[4] Following it, he assumed the role of [Minister of Veterans' Affairs](/source/Ministry_of_Veterans'_Affairs_(Croatia)) on which he remained until 2016, and same year served as a member of the SDP General Board.[5]

On 28 December 2015, Matić was elected as an MP and represented [Social Democratic Party of Croatia](/source/Social_Democratic_Party_of_Croatia) from the 5th constituency. On that same day, his candidacy was suspended, and Biljana Gaća was elected instead. He ran again, this time during the 2016 campaign, assuming office until 14 October, but was dropped in January of that year.[3] After his candidacy was dropped, he served as a member of Defence Committee, Gender Equality Committee and the [National Security Council](/source/National_Security_Council_(Croatia)).[3]

In addition to his committee assignments, Matić held the post of a Deputy Member of the Croatian delegation to the [Parliamentary Assembly](/source/Parliamentary_Assembly_of_the_Council_of_Europe) of the [South-East European Cooperation Process](/source/South-East_European_Cooperation_Process) and was also a member of the Interparliamentary Co-operation Committee.[3]

On 14 October 2016, Matić was elected back into an MP, using "Predrag" as his personal name. On 1 March 2019, he changed his name to "Predrag Fred" Matić following his reelection. During those years, from November 2016, he was a head of the Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the South-East European Cooperation Process and was a member of the Interparliamentary Co-operation Committee.[6]

### Member of the European Parliament, 2019–2024

Matić was a [Member of the European Parliament](/source/Member_of_the_European_Parliament) from the [2019 elections](/source/2019_European_Parliament_election_in_Croatia). In parliament, he served on the [Committee on Fisheries](/source/Committee_on_Fisheries) and on the [Committee on Culture and Education](/source/Committee_on_Culture_and_Education).[7] He was an alternate member of the [Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality](/source/Committee_on_Women's_Rights_and_Gender_Equality), where he served as the parliament's [rapporteur](/source/Rapporteur) on [sexual and reproductive health and rights](/source/Sexual_and_reproductive_health_and_rights) in the EU.[8]

In addition to his committee assignments, Matić was part of the Parliament's delegation for relations with the [Arab Peninsula](/source/Arab_Peninsula).[7]

In September 2022, Matić was the recipient of the Justice, Rule of Law and Human Rights Award at *[The Parliament Magazine](/source/The_Parliament_Magazine)'*s annual [MEP Awards](/source/The_Parliament_Magazine#The_MEP_Awards).[9]

## Political positions

In 2018, Matić commented on [Aleksandar Vučić](/source/Aleksandar_Vu%C4%8Di%C4%87)'s statement that Croatia wanted a country without [Serbs](/source/Serbs_of_Croatia), comparing it to [Adolf Hitler](/source/Adolf_Hitler)'s comments on how he wanted Germany without [Jews](/source/Jews_in_Germany).[10]

## Death

Matić died on 23 August 2024, at the age of 62.[11]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Pavelić, Boris (3 June 2019). ["PREDRAG FRED MATIĆ Jedini sam zastupnik u Europskom parlamentu koji je bio zatočenik konc-logora"](https://www.novilist.hr/novosti/hrvatska/predrag-fred-matic-jedini-sam-zastupnik-u-europskom-parlamentu-koji-je-bio-zatocenik-konc-logora/). *Novi list* (in Croatian). Retrieved 25 June 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Zastupnik data 84 | Croatian Parliament"](https://web.archive.org/web/20250620232607/https://sabor.hr/en/members-parliament/matic-predrag-8-term). *Croatian Parliament* (in Croatian). Archived from [the original](https://sabor.hr/en/members-parliament/matic-predrag-8-term) on 20 June 2025. Retrieved 17 October 2025.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-sabor_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-sabor_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-sabor_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-sabor_3-3) ["Predrag Matić"](https://www.sabor.hr/en/members-parliament/matic-predrag-8-term). Croatian Parliament. Retrieved 12 September 2019.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-nacional_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-nacional_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-nacional_4-2) ["Predrag Matić: heroj Vukovara u predsjedničkim dvorima"](http://arhiva.nacional.hr/clanak/81101/predrag-matic-heroj-vukovara-u-predsjednickim-dvorima). *[Nacional](/source/Nacional_(weekly))* (in Croatian). 4 June 2010.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-sdp_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-sdp_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-sdp_5-2) ["Predrag Fred Matić"](http://www.sdp.hr/clan/predrag-fred-matic/) (in Croatian). SDP. Retrieved 12 September 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Predrag Fred Matić"](https://www.sabor.hr/en/members-parliament/matic-predrag-fred-9-term). Croatian Parliament. Retrieved 12 September 2019.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Predrag_Fred_Matić_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Predrag_Fred_Matić_7-1) [Predrag Fred Matić](https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/197441/PREDRAG+FRED_MATIC/home) [European Parliament](/source/European_Parliament).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Maïa de La Baume (June 23, 2021), [Abortion debate in the European Parliament sparks divisions and hatred](https://www.politico.eu/article/abortion-debate-european-parliament-division-hatred/) *[Politico Europe](/source/Politico_Europe)*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["MEP Awards: Winners 2022"](https://www.mepawards.eu/winners-2022/). *[The Parliament Magazine](/source/The_Parliament_Magazine)*. 21 September 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Matić: Mi nemamo mangupa koji bi se suprotstavio Vučiću, Plenković je prefin za to"](https://www.novilist.hr/Vijesti/Hrvatska/Matic-Mi-nemamo-mangupa-koji-bi-se-suprotstavio-Vucicu-Plenkovic-je-prefin-za-to). *Novi list* (in Croatian). 7 August 2018. Retrieved 12 September 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Preminuo je Fred Matić"](https://www.index.hr/vijesti/clanak/preminuo-je-fred-matic/2592884.aspx). Index HR. 23 August 2024. Retrieved 23 August 2024.

- [European Union portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:European_Union)

Predrag Matić navigational boxes v t e Current members of the European Parliament from Croatia (2019–2024) Borzan (S&D) Flego (Renew) Glavak (EPP) Jerković (S&D) Kolakušić (NI) Matić (S&D) Picula (S&D) Ressler (EPP) Sinčić (NI) Sokol (EPP) Tomašić (ECR) Zovko (EPP) v t e List of members of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (2019–2024) Austria Heide Muigg Regner Schieder Sidl Belgium Arena Van Brempt Bulgaria Hristov Penkova Stanishev Vitanov Yoncheva Croatia Borzan Jerković Matić Picula Cyprus Mavrides Papadakis Czech Republic Maxová Denmark Fuglsang Schaldemose Vind Estonia Kaljurand Mikser Finland Heinäluoma Kumpula-Natri France Clergeau Durand Glucksmann Guillaume Lalucq Larrouturou Mebarek Germany Barley Bischoff Bullmann Burkhardt Geier Kammerevert Köster Krehl Lange Lucke Noichl Repasi Rudner Schuster Sippel Wölken Greece Papandreou Hungary Ara-Kovács Dobrev Molnár Rónai Ujhelyi Italy Bartolo Benifei Bresso Castro Chinnici Covassi Cozzolino Gualmini Laureti Moretti Picierno Pisapia Roberti Rondinelli Smeriglio Tinagli Toia Variati Latvia Ameriks Ušakovs Lithuania Blinkevičiūtė Olekas Luxembourg Angel Malta Cutajar Engerer Saliba Sant Netherlands Chahim Jongerius Reuten Tang Tax Wolters Poland Balt Belka Biedroń Cimoszewicz Kohut Liberadzki Miller Portugal Albuquerque Carvalhais Cerdas Leitão Marques Marques Pereira Pizarro Santos Zorrinho Romania Avram Benea Ciuhodaru Crețu Grapini Manda Negrescu Nica Plumb Tudose Slovakia Beňová Hajšel Slovenia Brglez Nemec Spain Amor Ballarin Blanco Casares Devesa J. L. Fernández J. Fernández Ferrandis Gálvez I. García C. A. García Gardiazabal Ginel González López López Aguilar Luena Maestre Moreno Muñoz Rodríguez-Piñero Sempere Sweden De Basso Fritzon Glanzelius Incir Ohlsson

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Predrag Matić](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predrag_Mati%C4%87) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predrag_Mati%C4%87?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.