| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Hrvatski Sabor / Croatian Parliament |
| Structure of parliament |
Unicameral |
| BACKGROUND |
| Dates of election / renewal (from/to) |
8 November 2015 |
| Purpose of elections |
No party won an outright majority in the 2015 elections. The opposition Patriotic Coalition, led by former intelligence chief Tomislav Karamarko's Democratic Union (HDZ, see note 1), came first, winning 59 seats in the 151-member parliament. The "Croatia is Growing" coalition, led by Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic's Social Democratic Party (SDP, see note 2), narrowly followed. The Bridge of Independent Lists (MOST), led by Mr. Bozo Petrov, came a distant third with 19 seats. After long coalition talks, on 22 January 2016, the HDZ and the MOST formed a new coalition government under the leadership of Mr. Tihomir Oreskovic (Independent).
The 2015 elections were the first to be held since the country joined the European Union in July 2013. They were held under the country's first woman President, Ms. Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic (HDZ), in power since January 2015. The 2015 elections were held amid the migrant crisis in Europe, with almost 120,000 people crossing Croatia's eastern border since mid-September. During the election campaign, the major parties focused on employment, economy and the need to address the migrant crisis.
Note 1:
The Patriotic Coalition comprises the HDZ, the Croatian Peasant Party (HSS), the Croatian Party of Rights (HSP), the Party of Rights-Dr Ante Starcevic (HSP AS), the Pensioners' Bloc (BUZ), the Social Liberal Party (HSLS), the Growth Party (HRAST), the Christian Democratic Union (HDS) and the Democratic Party of Zagorje.
Note 2:
The "Croatia is Growing" coalition is a successor of the Alliance for Change (KUKURIKU) which won the 2011 elections. The 2011 coalition comprised the SDP, the Croatian People's Party (HNS), the Croatian Party of Pensioners (HSU) and the Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS) but the IDS left the coalition prior to the 2015 elections. In 2015, in addition to the SDP, the HNS and the HSU, the Croatian Labourists - Labour Party (RADA), Authentic Croatian Peasant Party (A-HSS) and Zagorje Party (ZS) joined the SDP-led coalition. |
Date of previous elections: 4 December 2011
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: 28 September 2015
Timing of election: Upon normal expiry
Expected date of next elections: November 2019
Number of seats at stake: 151 (full renewal)
Number of candidates: 2,311 (1,354 men, 957 women)
Percentage of women candidates: 41.4%
Number of parties contesting the election: 66
Note: There were 166 lists.
Number of parties winning seats: 8
Alternation of power: Yes
Number of parties in government: 2
Names of parties in government: Democratic Union (HDZ), Bridge of Independent Lists (MOST)
Date of the first session of the new parliament: 3 December 2015
Name of the new Speaker: Mr. Zeljko Reiner (Democratic Union, HDZ) |
| STATISTICS |
| Voter turnout |
| Round no 1 | 8 November 2015 |
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes |
3'788'788
2'304'403 (60.82%)
|
|
Notes
|
|
| Distribution of seats |
|
Round no 1
|
| Political Group |
Total
|
|
|
|
|
| Patriotic Coalition |
59
|
|
|
|
|
| Croatia is Growing |
56
|
|
|
|
|
| Bridge of Independent Lists (MOST) |
19
|
|
|
|
|
| Representatives of ethnic minorities |
8
|
|
|
|
|
| Our Own Right |
3
|
|
|
|
|
| Croatian Democratic Alliance of Slavonia and Baranja (HDSSB) |
2
|
|
|
|
|
| Labour and Solidarity coalition |
2
|
|
|
|
|
| Successful Croatia |
1
|
|
|
|
|
| Zivi zid |
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to sex |
Men
Women
Percent of women |
128
23
15.23%
|
| Distribution of seats according to age |
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to profession |
|
|
| Comments |
Note on the distribution of seats according to political parties:
- The Patriotic Coalition comprised the HDZ, the Croatian Peasant Party (HSS), the Croatian Party of Rights (HSP), the Party of Rights-Dr Ante Starcevic (HSP AS), the Pensioners' Bloc (BUZ), the Social Liberal Party (HSLS), the Growth Party (HRAST), the Christian Democratic Union (HDS) and the Democratic Party of Zagorje.
- The "Croatia is Growing" coalition comprised the SDP, the Croatian People's Party (HNS), the Croatian Party of Pensioners (HSU), the Croatian Labourists Labour Party (RADA), Authentic Croatian Peasant Party (A-HSS) and Zagorje Party (ZS).
- The "Our Own Right" coalition comprised the Istrian Democratic Party (IDS) - Alliance of Primorje-Gorski Kotar (PGS) - List for Rijeka (RI).
- The "Labour and Solidarity" coalition comprised Bandic 365, Party of Labour and Solidarity, Democratic Party of Prigorje and Zagreb (DPS), Democratic Women's Party (DSZ), European Party of Croatia (HES), Croatian Workers' Party (HRS), Croatian Party of Greens Eco-Alliance (Zeleni), Istrian democrats (ID-DI), Medimurje Party (MS), Independent Croatian Farmers (NSH), New wave- Party of Development (NOVI VAL), Pensioners' Party (SU), Pensioners' Democratic Union (UDU), Green Alliance (Zeleni) and Green Party (ZS).
- The "Successful Croatia" coalition comprised Reformists, "Forward Croatia!", Pensioners, Green Forum (ZF) and Dubrovnik Democratic Assembly (DDS).
Sources:
Croatian Parliament (01.12.2015, 12.01.2016, 05.02.2016)
State Election Commission (02.12.2015)
http://www.izbori.hr
http://www.sabor.hr
http://www.total-croatia-news.com |
|
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Last elections module
