Bosnian Croat party urges Zagreb to back Croat electoral unit in Bosnia

HDZ 1990 leader Ilija Cvitanović issued a public appeal to Croatian President Zoran Milanović, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković and other state institutions, urging Zagreb to use diplomatic channels to protect what he described as the political rights of Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Croats are one of the country’s three constituent peoples, along with Bosniaks and Serbs. Croat parties have long argued that the current electoral system allows more numerous voters from other ethnic groups to influence the election of Croat representatives, particularly in the Federation of BiH, the entity shared by Bosniaks and Croats.

Cvitanovic said Croatia, as a signatory of the Washington and Dayton peace agreements, had a responsibility to take a more active role.

One of the party’s key demands is support for a separate Croat electoral unit within the Federation of BiH. HDZ 1990 argues that such a model would ensure that Croats can elect their own legitimate political representatives.

The appeal also calls on Croatian authorities to raise the issue with the European Union, the United States and the Office of the High Representative, and to make changes to Bosnia’s Election Law part of the country’s EU reform process.

Cvitanovic said he would initiate talks with other Croat political parties in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the coming days to discuss further steps.

The proposal is likely to deepen the long-running debate over Bosnia’s electoral system, which remains one of the country’s most sensitive post-war political issues.