CROATIAN ELECTORAL LEGISLATION: POSSIBLE AND NEEDFUL CHANGES

In this paper, the author discusses certain aspects of electoral systems which are used in the Croatian election legislation. In particular, the author discusses those which, in his opinion, demand change or have certain legal blanks. The author also supports partial changes in certain electoral systems which are applied in the Republic of Croatia. In the fi rst part of the paper, the author points out certain problems in the use of the D'Hondt method as it is defi ned in the Croatian electoral legislation (the appearance of the so called excessive mandate due to two phases of recalculation) and suggests certain changes. In the second part, the author refers to one aspect of the new system of direct election of municipal heads, mayors and county executives, which is related to the way deputies are chosen and which the author perceives as unsatisfactory. In the third part, the author discusses certain legal defi ciencies in the election of representatives of national minorities, and also suggests partial change in the election system for representatives of national minorities. In the fourth part, the author, bearing in mind the results of the last parliamentary elections and also the results of Members of Parliament elections held in 2000 and 2003, suggests eventual changes in the election system for choosing Members of Parliament in the Croatian parliament. Finally, in the last part of the paper, the author suggests certain changes in the election of members of representative bodies in units of local/ regional self-government