FINANCING OF POLITICAL PARTIES AND ELECTION CAMPAIGNS IN CROATIA: LEGAL FRAMEWORK, OVERSIGHT AND TRANSPARENCY CHALLENGES

HAXHIU, Sadik and OSMANI, Fadil (2026) FINANCING OF POLITICAL PARTIES AND ELECTION CAMPAIGNS IN CROATIA: LEGAL FRAMEWORK, OVERSIGHT AND TRANSPARENCY CHALLENGES. In: INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE “FROM RESEARCH TO APPLICATION”, 18-19 November, 2026.

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Abstract

The paper analysed the legal regulation of the financing of political parties and election campaigns in the Republic of Croatia, focusing on the Act on the Financing of Political Activities, Election Campaigns and Referendums, in force since 1 January 2020. It assessed whether the Act ensures transparency, a level playing field and effective oversight, and identified the gaps that persisted after the 2024 parliamentary and the 2025 local elections. Normative, comparative and documentary methods were applied to the statutory text, Council of Europe and OSCE/ODIHR standards, the European Commission 2025 Rule of Law Report and scholarship published between 2019 and 2026. The results showed that Croatia has a formally comprehensive framework, with dominant public funding, donation and spending ceilings, pre- and post-election reporting and online publication. However, significant weaknesses were found: financial ceilings have not been indexed since 2019 and were only mechanically converted into euro; loans, third-party campaigning and online political advertising remain unregulated at national level; donations from public contractors are allowed; and a review period of about 30 days and the limited capacity of the State Electoral Commission weaken oversight. The paper proposed automatic indexation of ceilings, rules on loans and third parties, implementation of Regulation (EU) 2024/900, a longer oversight period and a graduated and public sanctions regime.

Item Type: Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Subjects: K Law > K Law (General)
Divisions: Faculty of Law, Arts and Social Sciences > School of Law
Depositing User: Unnamed user with email zshi@unite.edu.mk
Date Deposited: 11 Nov 2026 11:09
Last Modified: 11 Nov 2026 11:09
URI: http://eprints.unite.edu.mk/id/eprint/2727

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