Zagreb - The longest-serving MP Furio Radin officially left the Parliament on Thursday, where he had served for 34 years of continuous service, and was replaced on the parliamentary benches by Marin Corva, who took the oath before the Speaker of the Parliament Gordan Jandroković.
Radin was elected as a representative of the Italian national minority 10 times, and has been in the Parliament since 1992, continuously since the constitution of the second parliamentary convocation. For the last nine years, he has also served as the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament.
His parliamentary tenure closely mirrors the duration of modern Croatian parliamentary democracy, which began only two years earlier, on 30 May 1990. In September 1992, Radin first entered the Parliament building on St Mark’s Square as an MP.
His departure therefore marks the end of an era in Parliament, during which he was widely regarded as a voice of moderation, respect for others and a non-confrontational approach, even in often challenging political circumstances.
The longest-serving MP decided to put his mandate on hold last week, after 34 years of parliamentary service, for personal reasons.
He was replaced in parliamentary benches by Marin Corva, president of the Italian Union, who swore before the Speaker of the Parliament Gordan Jandroković that he will perform his duties as a representative in the Croatian Parliament conscientiously and responsibly, that in his work he will adhere to the Constitution and the law and respect the legal order, and that he will advocate for the overall progress of the Republic of Croatia.
"I swear, lo giuro," said Corva, also in Italian.
On behalf of the Parliament, Jandroković wished him much success in performing "this responsible, important and honorable duty as a representative."