On 5 September, one of Croatia’s largest recent protests was held over alleged institutional failures to address illegal toxic waste dumping near Gospić. Organised by the citizens’ initiative ‘Gospić Is Our Home’, the protest followed the arrest of 13 people in a Europol-supported investigation, which later expanded to suspected official and regulatory wrongdoing. Media reported that environmental inspectors had sought the withdrawal of the operator’s permit in 2024, but local authorities later issued a new one. Public anger intensified after findings from anti-corruption authorities contradicted government assurances that soil and water were not contaminated. Protesters demanded a clean-up plan and stronger environmental monitoring and accountability. The government announced waste-removal and enforcement measures and responded to one of the protesters’ central demands by publishing a detailed remediation plan on 25 September. Campaigners continued to press for implementation.

Sources: Hrvatska Radiotelevizija (1), Hrvatska Radiotelevizija (2), Al Jazeera, Deutsche Welle

On 6 March, the Croatian Parliament passed a law adapting the national media framework to the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA), an EU Regulation directly applicable since August 2025. The law establishes the national institutional framework for its implementation, expanding the existing media regulator into a new Agency for Media with oversight extending to print media. It also strengthens transparency requirements on media ownership, funding and state advertising, and requires the labelling of AI-generated content. The government argued that the reform would enhance media independence, accountability and transparency. Critics, including opposition parties such as the SDP and Možemo! and media freedom organisations, argued that the law meets only the minimum requirements and fails to address longstanding political and economic pressure on independent journalism. 

Sources: Croatian Parliament, Balkan Insight, European Centre for Press & Media Freedom, Hrvatska Radiotelevizija

On 29 December, Croatia held the first round of its presidential elections, but no candidate secured a majority. A run-off will take place on 12 January. Incumbent President Zoran Milanović, backed by the Social Democratic Party (SDP), received the most votes with 49.1 per cent. Dragan Primorac, the candidate of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) of Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, came second with 19.4 per cent and will challenge Milanović in the second round. Voter turnout was 46.0 per cent.

UPDATE: On 12 January, Croatia held the second round of its presidential elections. The incumbent President Zoran Milanović, backed by the Social Democratic Party (SDP),  garnered 74.7 per cent of the vote, whereas the ruling centre-right Croatian Democratic Union, HDZ candidate, Dragan Primorac, secured around 25.3 per cent of the vote. Voter turnout was 44 per cent. 

Sources: Balkan Insight, Politico, State Election Commission, International IDEA

New Sources: Hrvatska Radiotelevizija, Balkan Insight, State Election Commission, International IDEA (1), International IDEA (2)

In the parliamentary elections held on 17 April, the conservative Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) remained the largest group with 34.4 per cent of the vote (winning 61 out of 151 seats, six fewer than they won in 2020), while the Social Democratic Party (SPD) coalition came second with 25.4 per cent of the vote. The right-wing party, Homeland Movement was third with 9.6 per cent. The campaign featured Prime Minister Andrej Plenković (HDZ) versus President Zoran Milanović (SDP). Women won 24.5 per cent of parliamentary seats, totaling 37 seats, an increase of two from 2020, marking the highest number since the country gained independence. Voter turnout was 62.3 per cent, up from 46.9 per cent in 2020.

Sources: State Election Commission (1), State Election Commission (2), Reuters, The Association of the Balkan News Agencies Southeast Europe,  International IDEA (1), International IDEA (2)