ZAGREB, Oct 17 (Hina) - Following the decision by the Croatian parliament to dissolve itself, President Stjepan Mesic said on Friday he would call parliamentary elections most probably on Monday October 20.
ZAGREB, Oct 17 (Hina) - Following the decision by the Croatian
parliament to dissolve itself, President Stjepan Mesic said on
Friday he would call parliamentary elections most probably on
Monday October 20. #L#
Prime Minister Ivica Racan and Parliament speaker Zlatko Tomcic had
earlier proposed that elections be held on November 23.
Under the Law on the Election of Members of the Croatian Parliament,
the President of the Republic calls parliamentary elections and
convenes the first session of the parliament.
At least 30 days must pass from the day on which elections are called
until election day. Parliamentary elections must be held not later
than 60 days after the expiry of the parliament's term of office or
its dissolution.
Voting takes place at polling stations in Croatia and Croatian
diplomatic and consular missions abroad.
Croatia is divided into ten constituencies which elect 140
candidates for the unicameral parliament. Each constituency elects
14 representatives.
Ethnic minorities have the right to choose a total of eight
representatives in a special constituency that covers the entire
country.
Lists of candidates that win at least five percent of the vote are
entitled to participate in the division of seats from a given
constituency.
Under the Constitution, the Croatian parliament, known as the
Sabor, may have not fewer than 100 and not more than 160
representatives elected on the basis of the general and equal
suffrage by secret ballot for a term of four years.
Election costs are covered from the national budget in accordance
with the law. 70 million kuna (approx. 9.3 million euros) has been
secured for the forthcoming elections following the revision of
this year's budget.
All political parties registered in Croatia on the day of
publication in the official gazette of the decision on the calling
of elections have the right to propose lists of candidates for
election.
Lists of candidates may be proposed by individual parties or two or
more parties (coalition list).
Voters may propose lists of candidates if they gather at least 500
signatures.
The National Election Commission must verify lists of candidates
within 48 hours of their submission and then make them public in the
daily press and on national television (HRT).
The election campaign begins on the day of publication of lists of
candidates and ends 24 hours before election day.
(hina) vm sb