Ivana Kekin transitioned from a career in clinical psychiatry to the national political stage in Croatia, leveraging her medical expertise to influence public policy. Her legislative work has primarily focused on healthcare privatization, mental health service accessibility, and the regulation of gambling, culminating in a presidential bid during the 2024 election cycle.
Medical Background and Training
Born in 1984, Ivana Novosel grew up in Sveti Ivan Zelina before moving to Zagreb in 2002 to study at the University of Zagreb School of Medicine. After graduating in 2008 and completing an initial tenure at the clinical trial company Sermon, she pursued specialized training in psychiatry at the University Hospital Centre Zagreb. She qualified as a psychiatrist in 2016 and earned her doctorate in 2018 with a thesis examining cerebral flow velocity in patients experiencing their first psychotic episode. In 2020, she attained further subspecialization in psychotherapy.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Legislative Initiatives and Policy Reform
Kekin entered parliament in September 2021 as a deputy for Rada Borić, eventually securing her own seat in the 2024 parliamentary elections. She has served on various committees, including those covering health, social policy, and gender equality. Her legislative record includes successful advocacy for stricter gambling regulations, such as banning slot machines in cafés and imposing limitations on betting advertising. Additionally, she led a public campaign against proposed amendments to the Maritime Domain and Sea Ports Act, which resulted in the withdrawal of clauses that would have permitted long-term private concessions of public maritime resources.
Presidential Campaign and Political Platform
Running on a green-left platform in the 2024 Croatian presidential election, Kekin campaigned under the slogan 'President of the New Generation.' Her campaign centered on criticisms of healthcare system corruption and the reliance on public-private contracts for medical imaging. After securing the necessary 18,000 signatures, she captured 8.89% of the vote in the first round. Beyond her national ambitions, she served as vice president of the Zagreb Assembly starting in 2021 and was elected to the European Parliament in 2024, though she ultimately declined the latter seat to maintain her focus on domestic political issues.
Fast facts
- Born: 1984
- Education: University of Zagreb School of Medicine
- Medical Specialization: Psychiatry and Psychotherapy
- Parliamentary Start: September 2021
- 2024 Presidential Election Result: 144,533 votes
- Key Policy Area: Healthcare privatization
- Citizenship: Croatia
Questions readers ask
What was the result of the maritime resources campaign?
Following a petition that gathered 30,000 signatures, the government abandoned proposed amendments that would have granted long-term private concessions for public maritime resources.
Why did Ivana Kekin decline her seat in the European Parliament?
After being elected in 2024, she ceded the position to Gordan Bosanac to prioritize domestic political work.
