STRASBOURG – The Assembly yesterday elected Croatian Foreign Minister Marija Pejčinović Burić as Secretary General of the Council of Europe for a five-year term beginning on 18 September 2019.
In the first round of the election, Marija Pejčinović Burić obtained 159 votes, an absolute majority, while Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders received 105 votes. In total, there were 264 votes cast.
In her speech after the election, Pejčinović Burić said that the Council of Europe is one of the most important organization today that needs to foster dialogue inside the organization itself, but also among member states.
“So, I really do wish and hope for your support that during my mandate we will work together on the very founding goals of this organization which is peace and prosperity for all European citizens”, said Pejčinović Burić.
Marija Pejčinović Burić is currently Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia since 19 June 2017. Previously she was State Secretary in Croatian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs (20016-2017), and before that she worked as a private consultant and was HDZ member of the Parliament of Croatia (2008-2011).