Election system of the Republic of Croatia

Politički sustav Hrvatske utemeljen je na načelu diobe vlasti na zakonodavnu, izvršnu i sudbenu vlast. Ustavom je utvrđeno da narod ostvaruje vlast izborom svojih predstavnika i izravnim odlučivanjem, a zajamčeno je pravo na lokalnu i područnu (regionalnu) samoupravu. Hrvatska je jedna od rijetkih država koja je u samo dva desetljeća primijenila dva osnovna izborna modela, većinski i razmjerni te njihovu kombinaciju. Prema važećemu zakonu zastupnici se u jednodomni parlament (Sabor) biraju prema razmjernom izbornom sustavu u 12 izbornih jedinica. U 10 izbornih jedinica bira se po 14 zastupnika, do 3 zastupnika bira se u jedinici za dijasporu, 8 zastupnika u izbornoj jedinici za pripadnike nacionalnih manjina. Mandati se raspodjeljuju prema d’Hondtovoj metodi, a izborni je prag 5%. U Republici Hrvatskoj provode se i izravni predsjednički izbori u dva kruga glasovanja; ako niti jedan kandidat ne osvoji natpolovičnu većinu glasova u prvom krugu, u drugom se krugu natječu dvojica kandidata s najviše glasova iz prvoga kruga. Također se provode izravni izbori općinskih načelnika, gradonačelnika i župana. Izbori za Europski parlament prvi put su održani u travnju 2013.The political system of the Republic of Croatia is based on the principle of division of power into legislative, executive and judicial power. It has been established by the constitution that the people exercise their power by choosing their representatives and by direct decision-making while guaranteeing the right to local and regional self-government.Croatia is one of few countries that has adopted two basic election models in only two decades, those being : the majority and the proportional model as well as their combination. According to the current law, MPs are elected in a single parliament (Sabor) by a proportional electoral system in 12 constituencies. There are 14 MPs in 10 constituencies, up to 3 MPs are elected in the Diaspora Unit and 8 MPs in the constituency for members of national minorities. Mandates are distributed according to d'Hondt's method and electoral threshold is 5%. In the Republic of Croatia, direct presidential elections are conducted in two rounds of voting; if none of the candidates win the majority of the votes in the first round, in the second round the two highest ranked candidates from the first round compete. Direct elections are also conducted for municipal mayors, mayors and counties. The elections for the European Parliament were held for the first time in April 2013