The Sabor Presidency, together with all the parliamentary clubs of deputies, apart from the Croatian Party of Rights (HSP), moved the proposal for the decoration, and the motion was on Wednesday supported by 78 MPs, while three HSP deputies abstained from the voting.
Presenting the motion, Sabor Deputy Speaker Mato Arlovic said that since Croatia gained independence, Stjepan Mesic has held a series of senior posts - he was Sabor Speaker, Prime Minister, an MP - before he became the Croatian head of state.
According to Arlovic, the fact that Mesic won the second term in office of Croatian President proves that he enjoys the confidence of citizens.
"Stjepan Mesic has promoted Croatia as a democracy that respects European standards and he has strengthened the country's path towards European integration," the Sabor Deputy Speaker said.
The Grand Order of King Tomislav is awarded to heads of state as a sign of recognition of their efforts in the establishment of the sovereign Croatia, for their contribution to the enhancement of Croatia's international image and reputation, and for their impact on the development of bilateral relations.
Mesic is the second awardee. The first Croatian President, the late Franjo Tudjman, was the first to receive this decoration.
The HSP deputies explained that they abstained from the voting as they believed that President Mesic had on several occasions ridiculed the bestowing of high Croatian decorations, notably those established by his predecessor Tudjman.
They added that the best corroboration of their statement was the fact that Mesic bestowed one of high decorations, namely the Grand Order of King Zvonimir with the Morning Star, to an Indian guru when he visited him.