This dissertation examines the political action of Franjo Tuđman from 1989 to 1999 from the analytical perspective of political leadership. Here, the political leadership is regarded as the form of power in the sense of the influence of political leaders on the outcomes of the decision – making processes. According to political leadership theory, three types of factors determine the influence of political leaders on the outcomes of the decision – making processes: institutional, situational and personal factors. By analyzing Tudjman’s political action in the different phases and types of activities from 1989 to 1999, it aims to examine his successes and failures in shaping the state and party decisions and identify key factors, that are sources of power of his political leadership. Empirical analysis showed that Tuđman had a decisive role in shaping the outcomes of party and state decision – making processes from 1989 to 1999, although in certain phases he faced failures in shaping the political outcomes. The analysis identified the impact of selected institutional, situational and personal factors of the political leadership of Franjo Tuđman, showing that institutional elements were the most stable sources of power of Tuđman's political leadership. Selected situational factor became especially significant after the parliamentary and presidential elections in 1992, while personal element (Tuđman's charisma) was the primary source of power of Tuđman’s political leadership in the founding phase of Croatian Democratic Union, and its impact was enhanced and weaken in the following phases, according to a given situation.