This will be one of the shortest election campaigns to date
President of the Republic of Croatia Kolinda Grabar Kitaroić announced the official parliamentary elections date in her special address on Monday, October 5th.
Elections for the 8th parliament assembly since Croatia gained its independence will be held on Sunday, November 8th.
President Grabar Kitarović stated:
“Croats in our homeland and abroad,
In accordance with my constitutional authority, I made a decision today to announce the date of parliamentary elections, and I have decided that the next parliamentary elections will be held on Sunday, November 8th, 2015.
On that day, the fate of our Croatia will be in your hands. That is the day when politicians will be accountable to you and when democracy takes its full meaning. Therefor I invite you to pay close attention to everything election participants are offering, their programmes and how those programmes will reflect on your everyday life during the next four years.
I would especially like to invite our youngest voters and first time voters. Don’t allow others to choose instead of you. Croatia needs your fresh perspective and your participation in the most important act of democracy.
You, the voters, are in the centre of this election because your vote participates in the shaping of new Croatian legislative and executive government. Hence I urge you to vote. Use your right and take responsibility”. President Grabar Kitarović added.
President also reminded all of those in the running for the next Parliament assembly they all have equal responsibility towards the voters and the nation ” I urge all of those in the running not to turn this festival of democracy into a carnival of democracy. Croatia is tired from needless confrontations and idle discussions. The time has come to leave the ashes of the bast behind and to start building the foundations of our future. And that future is filled with challenges that require harmonious actions from all social factors because we are at a point in time which requires a wide consensus regarding key and strategic subjects”.
President Grabar Kitarović also appealed to the members of the media, stressing their importance and role in the shaping of public opinion: “Dear members of the press, pen is a mighty weapon, please use your public influence professionally and responsibly, play the role of the ‘juror of the nation’ in this election race. You are the ones who create public opinion and create a critical yet affirmative public conscience so use this opportunity to contribute to the strengthening of social responsibility. Freedom of the media implies ethics and responsibility”.
Now that the election date has been confirmed, political parties and independent candidates have 14 days to submit their candidatures to the State Electoral Commission which will then accept and publish all valid lists within 48 hours. Election campaign starts after candidatures are published by the State Electoral Commission.
