ZAGREB, July 28, 2019 – The Croatian World Congress (HSK), an organisation of Croatian expatriates, called on Saturday on the Croatian government and Croat representatives in the Bosnian government to create programmes to encourage the return of expatriates, also asking to be guaranteed six seats in the Croatian parliament.
At its annual assembly in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the HSK said it was incomprehensible that Croatian citizens abroad were prevented from voting because of the small number of polling stations and the impossibility to vote electronically or by post.
The HSK said expatriates should be represented in Croatia’s parliament by one member each from Australia, South America, the US, and Canada, and by two from Europe.
It’s incomprehensible and damaging that Croatian expatriates have fewer rights than ethnic minorities in Croatia, the HSK said, adding that MPs from the diaspora would help to strengthen the ties between it and the homeland.
The HSK went on to say that it was high time for “responsible institutions in the homeland” to start offering attractive programmes to returnees which, it added, would improve the demographic situation and revive the Croatian economy.
The HSK also called on all Croatian institutions to stand up for Croats in BiH, saying that despite being a constituent people, they were reduced to a neglected ethnic minority in BiH.
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