Direct election of executive local bodies on Republic of Croatia

U ovom radu razmatra se neposredni način izbora izvršnih tijela vlasti na primjeru hrvatskih gradova. Sveobuhvatnom analizom izbornih rezultata analitičkim metodama dolazi se do saznanja o ostvarenom uspjehu određenih kandidata i izlaznosti glasača na izbore. U obzir su uzeti svi hrvatski gradovi, ukupno njih 128. Kroz istraživanje, obuhvaćene su tada aktualne izborne liste pa se lako može doći do zaključka o rezultatima neposrednih izbora u gradovima. Rad se fokusira na lokalne izbore koji su provedeni 2009. i 2013. godine. Cilj ovog rada je na temelju istraživanja izrađenog nad rezultatima i podacima lokalnih izbora 2009. i 2013. godine, doći do informacije o izlaznosti građana na izbore i ostvarenom uspjehu nezavisnih kandidata nakon provedbe neposrednih izbora. Svrha rada je omogućiti čitatelju pregled relevantnih podataka vezanih uz navedene izbore i način izbora. Budući da su lokalni izbori po prvi put u Republici Hrvatskoj provedeni na taj način, vrlo je zanimljivo vidjeti kako je neposredni način izbora utjecao na ostvaren uspjeh kandidata i zainteresiranost građana za izborima. Radom se tako nastoji odgovoriti na sljedeća istraživačka pitanja: 1) Je li nakon 2009. godine kada su uvedeni neposredni izbori, povećana izlaznost na izbore? 2) Je li se povećao uspjeh nezavisnih kandidata nakon tih izbora?This paper examines the direct way of electing executive bodies of government on the example of the Croatian ones cities. A comprehensive analysis of election results using analytical methods leads to information about the achieved success of certain candidates and voter turnout at elections. They are taken into account take all Croatian cities, a total of 128 of them.Through the research, the current ones were covered election lists, so it is easy to come to a conclusion about the results of direct elections in cities.The paper focuses on the local elections that were held in 2009 and 2013. The aim of this paper is to based on research conducted on the results and data of the local elections in 2009 and 2013. year, to obtain information about the turnout of citizens in elections and the achieved success of independents candidates after direct elections. The purpose of the paper is to provide the reader with an overview relevant data related to the said elections and the election method. Since it is a local election conducted in this way for the first time in the Republic of Croatia, it is very interesting to see how it is the direct election method influenced the achieved success of candidates and the interest of citizens inelections. The work thus tries to answer the following research questions: 1) After 2009, when direct elections were introduced, did the voter turnout increase? 2) Did the success of independent candidates increase after those elections