ZAGREB, April 12 (Hina) - Local elections, at which Croatian citizens will elect their representatives to municipal, town and county bodies of authority will be held on Sunday, May 20, the Croatian government decided at a session on
Thursday. This decision goes into force on the day of its announcement in the National Gazette on April 19, Prime Minister Ivica Racan said. On April 19, the current representative bodies of local and regional self-government will cease operating, Racan said. The government also adopted a decision on funds for election campaigning, under which the right to claim compensation for election costs will be granted to those political parties and heads of independent rosters who win at least one seat in a representative body. The compensation for each member of a municipal council will amount to 3,000 kuna, of a town council 4,000 kuna and of a county assembly and the Zagreb City Assembly 5,000
ZAGREB, April 12 (Hina) - Local elections, at which Croatian
citizens will elect their representatives to municipal, town and
county bodies of authority will be held on Sunday, May 20, the
Croatian government decided at a session on Thursday.
This decision goes into force on the day of its announcement in the
National Gazette on April 19, Prime Minister Ivica Racan said. On
April 19, the current representative bodies of local and regional
self-government will cease operating, Racan said.
The government also adopted a decision on funds for election
campaigning, under which the right to claim compensation for
election costs will be granted to those political parties and heads
of independent rosters who win at least one seat in a representative
body.
The compensation for each member of a municipal council will amount
to 3,000 kuna, of a town council 4,000 kuna and of a county assembly
and the Zagreb City Assembly 5,000 kuna.
The compensation is below the expectations of political parties and
probably less than what elections will cost, but it cannot be higher
due to the economic situation, Deputy Justice Minister Ranko Marjan
said. The right to claim compensation for election costs can be
exercised after the announcement of the official election
results.
Members of representatives bodies in local units are elected in
direct elections, by a secret ballot, and in line with the
proportionate representation system - the entire area of a local
unit is a constituency.
Members of representative bodies are elected by Croatian citizens
of 18 years of age, who have permanent residence in the area of the
unit whose representative body is being elected and who are on the
unit's voters list. The same conditions apply to those running in
the election.
Members of representative bodies are elected for a term of four
years, their mandate is not binding, they cannot be recalled and
their rights and duties start on the day of constitution of their
respective representative bodies.
The government adopted a conclusion binding all electoral
commissions to take care about special polling stations for
refugees, respecting the procedure which has become customary over
the past years.
The last regular local election in Croatia was held on April 13
1997.
(hina) rml