In Croatia, the Constitutional Court has ruled that the President of the Republic did not resign from his position in accordance with the warning issued on March 18, 2024. As a result, he is not eligible to lead the future government or become the prime minister, according to the Associated Press. The recent elections in Croatia were dominated by two politicians, with implications for the upcoming European Parliament elections in June. One of these candidates, Milanović, has been critical of the EU’s policy on the war in Ukraine and raised concerns about potential pro-Russian influences in the country similar to Hungary and Slovakia.
The court’s decision further solidifies that Milanović is unlikely to lead the government based on election results. Despite winning 42 seats in the election, his Social Democratic Party (SDP) will not be able to form a government due to his disqualification as a mandate holder by the court. The court had previously warned Milanović and SDP to adhere to constitutional requirements and advised them that if they intended to participate in elections while holding their positions as president and party leader, they must resign first.
Opposition parties have criticized this decision as favoring ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ). However, legal experts have varied reactions with some disagreeing with this ruling while others emphasizing its importance of upholding constitutional-legal order and rule of law. Overall, this decision by Constitutional Court reinforces principles of constitution and legal system in Croatia.
