Chamber:
	Zupanijski dom
Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):
	13 April 1997
Purpose of elections:
	Elections were held for all the elective seats of the House of Zupanije on the normal expiry of the members' term of office.
Background and outcome of elections:
	General elections for the House of Zupanije (counties) had previously been held in February 1993. On 12 February 1997, President of the Republic Franjo Tudjman announced the postponement of that year's poll from 16 March to 13 April. Voting was ultimately extended by one day in eastern Slavonia. The electoral campaign was somewhat lacklustre. Of the competing groups, the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) swept to victory, capturing 40 of the 63 seats at stake and emerging victorious in 19 of the country's 21 counties. It was closely followed in votes obtained (but not seats) by the ex-communist Social Democratic Party (SDP) - Social-Liberal Party (HSLS) alliance, which narrowly triumphed in the capital Zagreb. Third place went to the centrist Croatian Peasants' party (PSS) which, though not obtaining high totals, held the significant balance. Polling procedures - which took place simultaneously with voting for municipalities - were deemed generally fair by United Nations observers.

STATISTICS

Round no 1 (13 April 1997): Elections results
Number of registered electors	3,664,693
Voters	2,614,874 (71.35%)
Blank or invalid ballot papers	85,062
Valid votes	2,529,812

Round no 1: Distribution of seats
Political Group	Total
Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ)	40
Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS)	9
Croatian Social-Liberal Party (HSLS)	6
Social Democratic Party (SDP)	4
Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS)	2
Croatian Party of Rights (HSP)	2

Comments:
	These figures refer only to the elective seats

Distribution of seats according to sex:
Men:	59
Women:	4

Distribution of seats according to age:
21-30 years	1
31-40 years	13
41-50 years	19
51-60 years	20
61-70 years	9
Over 70 years	1