The five-year term of President Stjepan Mesic expires on 18 February 2005, as he was inaugurated on 18 February 2000 after two election rounds, on 24 January and 8 February, and 21 December 2004 is exactly 60 days before the end of his term in office.
Under the Law on the Election of the President of the Republic, at least 30 days must pass between the day when the government calls elections and the election day.
Under the same law, Croatian nationals of age can run in presidential elections. Candidates can be nominated by registered political parties or by voters. Two or more political parties can nominate one candidate.
The nomination of a candidate should be supported by at least 10,000 voters' signatures.
The official presidential campaign lasts from the day when the elections are called until 24 hours before the election day.
Under the Constitution, "the President of the Republic shall be elected by a (50 percent) majority vote of all electors who voted. If none of the candidates has obtained such a majority, a new election shall be held after 14 days."
The two candidates who in the first election round obtain the largest number of votes shall have the right to run in the second round. The one who wins more votes in the second round becomes the President.
"No one shall be the President of the Republic more than twice," reads the Constitution.
Under the law on the financing of presidential campaigns, the campaign can be financed from the candidate's own funds or donations made by individuals and legal entities.
Candidates are bound to submit provisional reports on the amount and sources of funds collected for this purpose to the State Election Commission no less than seven days before the election day. There is also a 15-day deadline after the elections for the submission of reports on funds spent during the election campaign.
The incumbent head of state, Stjepan Mesic, and the vice-president of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), Jadranka Kosor, who is also a Deputy Prime Minister, have announced their candidacies for the fourth presidential elections since the country gained independence.
The opposition Croatian Party of Rights (HSP) will nominate Slaven Letica. The nonparliamentary Croatian Christian Democratic Union (HKDU) on Tuesday officially nominated Anto Kovacevic as its presidential candidate.
Candidatures have been announced by businessman Boris Miksic and a former coach of the Croatian national soccer team, Miroslav Blazevic, who are both nonparty candidates.
According to some unofficial reports, presidential ambitions are held by former Social Liberal Party (HSLS) leader Drazen Budisa, Democratic Centre (DC) senior official Hrvoje Sarinic, reporter Ivan Zvonimir Cicak, a former HDZ member and former PM, Ljubo Cesic Rojs, and some other public figures.
The last presidential elections were held on 24 January 2000, when the largest number of votes was won by Mesic, the candidate of the Croatian People's Party (HNS), and by Budisa. The two competed in the second round on 8 February.
Mesic won the second round and took a solemn oath swearing loyalty to the Constitution on 18 February that year.