Croatian elections 2003

General information

There are 10 electoral units based on geography and population. In each unit, 14 candidates are elected on proportional electoral system. The election threshold is 5%.

In addition, 8 candidates are elected to represent national minorities.

The citizens that live outside Croatian borders vote in a separate electoral unit. The number of representatives elected from this unit will be determined after the elections, based on how many people actually vote in Croatia, so that there is equal value of votes both inside and outside Croatia. For reference, the number of diaspora seats in the 2000-2003 Sabor was six.

Total: 140 domestic seats + 8 minority seats + 4 diaspora seats.

Distribution of minority seats:

• Serbs: 3
• Hungarians: 1
• Italians: 1
• Czechs and Slovaks: 1
• Austrians, Bulgarians, Germans, Poles, Roma, Romanians, Ruthenes, Russians, Turks, Ukrainians, Vlachs and Jews: 1
• Albanians, Bosniaks, Montenegrins, Macedonians, Slovenians: 1

Parties and coalitions

Pre-election coalitions:

• DC and HSLS, in all electoral units
• SDP and IDS, in the 8th electoral unit (the county of Istria et al)
• HB and HIP, in all electoral units
• SDP and Libra in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 10th electoral unit
• SDP and LS, in the 4th and 6th electoral unit
• HNS and SBHS, in the 4th and 5th electoral unit (counties of Slavonia)
• HNS and PGS, in the 7th and 8th electoral unit (Northern seacoast counties)

Summary of votes and seats

Registered Voters: 4,087,553 Votes Cast: 2,520,008 61.6 Invalid Votes: 41,041 01.6 Valid Votes: 2,478,967 98.4 ------------------------------------------------------------------ Party or coalition Votes % Seats ------------------------------------------------------------------ HDSS 24,872 01.0 1 HDZ 840,692 33.9 (+07.2) 66 (+20) HNS-SBHS-PGS 198,781 08.0 11 HSLS-DC 100,335 04.0 3 HSP-ZDS 157,987 06.4 (+01.2) 8 (+03) HSS 177,359 07.1 9 HSU 98,537 04.0 3 SDP-IDS-SLD-LS 560,593 22.6 (-16.1) 43 (-28) Others 319,811 12.9 7 ------------------------------------------------------------------ Total 2,478,967 151 ------------------------------------------------------------------ Source: International Foundation for Electoral Studies Results for the domestic seats:

1. Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ): 62
2. Social Democratic Party of Croatia (SDP): 34
3. Croatian People's Party (HNS): 10
4. Croatian Peasants Party (HSS): 9
5. Croatian Party of Rights (HSP): 8
6. Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS): 4
7. Libra-Party of Liberal Democrats (Libra): 3
8. Croatian Party of Pensioners (HSU): 3
9. Liberal Party (LS): 2
10. Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS): 2
11. Alliance of Primorje - Gorski Kotar (PGS): 1
12. Democratic Centre (DC): 1
13. Croatian Democratic Peasants Party (HDSS): 1

Results for the minority seats:

• Serbs:
  • Independent Democratic Serbian Party (SDSS): 3
• Italians:
  • independent candidate: 1
• Hungarians:
  • Democratic Union of Magyars of Croatia (DZMH): 1
• Czechs et al:
  • Croatian Peasants Party (HSS): 1
• Germans et al:
  • German People's Union - National Association of Danubian Schwaben in Croatia: 1
• Bosniaks et al:
  • Party of Democratic Action of Croatia (SDA Hrvatske): 1

Results for diaspora seats (4 seats)

1. Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ): 4

The number of diaspora mandates is reduced by 2 compared to previous elections due to somewhat lower diaspora turnout. Due to distribution according to the d'Hondt method, the independent lists for diaspora won't be allocated seats, even though they received over 5% of total votes.

Ivo Sanader of Croatian Democratic Union HDZ was appointed as Prime Minister by the President and confirmed by the Croatian Parliament.

New Government is formed of 13 HDZ ministers and 1 of Democratic Centre.

See also

• Politics of Croatia

Referenced By