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Croatia

https://www.idea.int/democracytracker/

April 2024

Conservative incumbent HDZ party wins parliamentary elections
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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)

March 2024

President Milanović defies Constitutional Court's ban on his PM candidacy
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After President Zoran Milanović declared his intention to run for Prime Minister in the 17 April elections on behalf of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the Constitutional Court asserted that Milanović could only pursue this candidacy if he resigned from his presidential position first. This decision was based on Article 96 of the Constitution, which prohibits the president from engaging in any other public or professional duties, emphasizing the non-partisan nature of the role and the prohibition of involvement in political party activities. President Milanović said that the Constitutional Court cannot do anything to him, that he would disregard its warning and that a potential annulment of elections by the Court would amount to a coup. Subsequently, he faced accusations of employing campaign rhetoric, prompting the State Election Commission to urge the President to abstain from direct involvement in election campaigning.

Sources: Hrvatska radiotelevizija (1), Hrvatska radiotelevizijav (2), Hrvatska radiotelevizija (3), N1 Info, Balkan Insight

February 2024

PM Andrej Plenković proposes penalizing leaks from investigations
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Prime Minister Andrej Plenković proposed amendments to the Criminal Code, which would make unauthorized disclosure of materials from criminal proceedings punishable by up to three years in prison. President Zoran Milanović, media and law experts have condemned the amendments. The Croatian Journalists’ Association (HND) said the legislation will silence journalists and their sources and see it as an attack on freedom of speech and the public interest. The International Press Institute said that this proposal, along with the July 2023 draft of the new media law, are a step backward for press freedom ahead of the 2024 elections. The legislation comes following a recent leak of text messages from a legal procedure that led to Prime Minister Plenković being accused of involvement in corruption.

Sources: Balkan Insight (1), Balkan Insight (2), Croatian Parliament, People’s Dispatch, International Press Institute, Politico

May 2023

Reports spotlight Croatia’s migrant pushbacks

A Human Rights Watch report revealed that the Croatian police are systematically and forcefully pushing refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants of different origins back to Bosnia and Herzegovina, disregarding their asylum claims and protection needs. According to the report, the practice includes mistreatment of vulnerable groups and violation of human rights norms as border police are involved in theft and destruction of personal belongings and are subjecting individuals to humiliating and racist treatment. Balkan Insight has also reported on the matter, citing local NGOs and experts who question the legality of these procedures under European law. Croatian authorities argue that these actions are governed by a bilateral agreement and should be classified as returns rather than expulsions.

Sources: Human Rights Watch, Balkan Insight

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Global ranking per category of democratic performance in 2023

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Representation
29/173
Rights
43/173
Rule of Law
46/173
Participation
77/173
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Basic Information

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Population Tooltip
3 853 200
System of government
Parliamentary system
Head of government
Prime Minister Andrej Plenković (since 2016)
Head of government party
Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ)
Electoral system for lower or single chamber
List Proportional Representation
Women in lower or single chamber
33.1%
Women in upper chamber
Not applicable
Last legislative election
2024
Effective number of political parties Tooltip
4.79
Head of state
President Zoran Milanović
Selection process for head of state
Direct election (two-round majority)
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) date
10/11/2020
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) percentage of recommendations supported
86.61%
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Human Rights Treaties

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State Party State party
Signatory Signatory
No Action No action
United Nations Human Right Treaties
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
State Party
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
State Party
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
State Party
Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women
State Party
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment
State Party
Convention on the Rights of the Child
State Party
International Convention on Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families
No Action
International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance 
State Party
International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
State Party
International Labour Organisation Treaties
Forced Labour Convention
State Party
Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention
State Party
Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention
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Equal Remuneration Convention
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Abolition of Forced Labour Convention
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Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention
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Convention concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment
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Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention
State Party
Regional Treaties
Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
State Party
Protocol to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
State Party
Protocol No. 4 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
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Protocol No. 6 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
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Protocol No. 7 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
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Protocol No. 12 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
State Party
Protocol No. 13 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
State Party
in
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Performance by category over the last 6 months

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Representation neutral Rule of law
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Representation neutral Participation
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Global State of Democracy Indices

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Explore the indices
Representation
Representation
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high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Rights
Rights
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high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Rule of Law
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mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Participation
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high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4

Factors of Democratic Performance Over Time

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