Claim: In the 1997 Croatian presidential election, Franjo Tuđman (also written as Franjo Tudjman) lost the election, with 458,172 votes, while Vlado Gotovac won, with 1,337,990 votes.
Evidence: Following the country's independence from Yugoslavia he became the first President of Croatia and served as president from 1990 until his death in 1999. On 15 June 1997 Tuđman won the presidential elections with 61.4% of the votes, ahead of Zdravko Tomac and Vlado Gotovac, and was re-elected to a second five-year term. Franjo Tuđman's approval ratings July 1997 Re-elected president 65 He was re-elected president in 1992 and 1997 and remained in power until his death in 1999. 1997 Franjo Tuđman (61.41%), Zdravko Tomac (21.03%), Vlado Gotovac (17.56%) Franjo Tuđman (61.41%)