New Parline: the IPU’s Open Data Platform (beta)
Your one-stop-shop for information about national parliaments

Croatia

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Croatian Parliament

Political system Political systems: Presidential, Parliamentary, Presidential-Parliamentary, Monarchy, Communist, Transitional.
Parliamentary system
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Structure of parliament Structure of parliament: Unicameral, bicameral
Unicameral
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IPU membership Current membership status
Yes
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Election results

Data on parliamentary elections, including the background, candidates, voter turnout, results and the formation of the new legislature. By default the latest election results are displayed. Select a date to view results from previous elections

Background

Election date(s) The date when elections started and ended for directly or indirectly elected parliaments/chambers. The date of appointments for appointed parliaments/chambers.
11.09.2016
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature Date at which the previous legislature (elected at the previous elections) was dissolved.
15.07.2016
Timing of election Timing of election: Upon normal expiry; Early elections; Delayed elections
Early election
Expected date of next elections The expected date at which the next elections should take place, based on law or practice.
30.09.2020
Number of seats at stake Number of seats contested at the elections. Where the parliament/chamber is fully renewed, this number is usually identical to the statutory number of members. Where the parliament/chamber is partially renewed or appointed, the number of seats at stake is usually less than the total number of members.
151
Scope of elections Scope of elections: Full renewal; Partial renewal.
Full renewal

Candidates

Total number of candidates Total number of people who registered as candidates for election. Does not include people who stood as candidates to become "substitute members".
2,456
Number of male candidates Number of male candidates
1,480
Number of female candidates Number of female candidates
976
The number of women candidates is not available from authoritative sources.
No
Percentage of women candidates The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women candidates by the total number of candidates.
39.74%
Number of parties contesting the election This field may include either the number of parties contesting the election, or the number of coalitions/electoral alliance.
60
Notes
Number of parties contesting the election: 60. There were 177 lists.

Voter turnout

Registration Number of people registered to vote
3,763,769
Votes Number of people who actually voted
1,979,277
Voter turnout The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of people who actually voted by the number of people registered to vote
52.59%

Results

About the election Short description of the context and results of the election.
No party won an outright majority in the snap elections held only 10 months after the previous polls. The Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) and its allies (see note 1), now led by Mr. Andrej Plenkovic, came first, ahead of the People's Coalition led by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) (see note 2).
 
 During the election campaign, the major parties focused on economic development, job creation for youth and the refugee/migration crisis in Europe.
 
 The 2016 snap elections followed the collapse of the coalition government under the leadership of Mr. Tihomir Oreskovic (Independent), comprising the HDZ and the Bridge of Independent Lists (MOST). The coalition government, formed in January 2016, collapsed in June, due to a row over public administration reforms and corruption scandals. President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic (HDZ) called snap elections after the parliamentary parties failed to form a new government within the 30-day deadline.
 
 Note 1:
 The HDZ led the "Patriotic Coalition" in the 2015 elections.
 
 Note 2:
 The SDP led the "Croatia is Growing" coalition in 2015, which itself was a successor of the Alliance for Change (KUKURIKU) which won the 2011 elections.
Number of parties winning seats The number of parties which won parliamentary representation in the given election.
8
Percentage of parties winning seats The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of parties which won parliamentary representation by the number of parties contesting the election.
13.33%
Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of seats won by the largest party by the number of seats at stake in the election.
40.4%
Alternation of power after elections The results of the elections caused a change in the government. "Not applicable" to countries using the presidential system when parliamentary and presidential elections are held separately, to countries in political transition or where there is no party system.
No
Note on the alternation of power
The previous government comprising the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) and the Bridge of Independent Lists (MOST) collapsed before the 2016 elections. However, the same parties formed a coalition government after the 2016 elections. 
Names of parties in government The government may be formed by one or more political parties
Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), Independent Lists (MOST)
Parties or coalitions winning seats
Political groups winning seats breakdown
Political group Total
Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) and its allies 61
People's Coalition (SDP-HNS-HSS-HSU) 54
Bridge of Independent Lists (MOST) 13
Human Shield (Zivi zid) and its allies 8
Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS) 3
Bandic Milan 365 and its allies 2
Croatian Democratic Party of Slavonia and Baranja (HDSSB) 1
Independent list of Zeljko Glasnovic 1
Members elected, by sex
Number of men elected
132
Number of women elected
19
Percentage of women elected The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women elected in the election and the number of seats at stake at the election.
12.58%
Other notes
Number of parties winning seats: 8, including four coalitions. 
 
 The People's Coalition comprised the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the Croatian People's Party - Liberal Democrats (HNS), the Croatian Peasant Party (HSS) and the Croatian Party of Pensioners (HSU).
Sources
Parliament (13.09.2016, 27.09.2016, 01.01.2017, 22.02.2017) Državno Izborno Povjerenstvo REUTERS Euronews Deutsch Welle
Women Directly Elected
19

New legislature

Total number of men after the election The total number of male parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
132
Total number of women after the election The total number of female parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
19
First-term parliamentarians The number of members who are assuming their parliamentary mandate for the first time following the election or renewal, regardless of their mode of designation.
44
Date of the first session The date when the newly elected parliament/chamber was convened for the first time. It may be different from the date when members were sworn in.
14.10.2016
First Speaker of the new legislature
First Speaker of the new legislature First name of the Speaker of the new legislature following the election or renewal.
Bozo Petrov (Male)
Political party
Bridge of Independent Lists (MOST)
Date of election
14.10.2016