Document #1312617
Freedom House (Author)
NIT Edition | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
National Democratic Governance | 3.50 | 3.25 | 3.50 | 3.50 | 3.50 | 3.50 | 3.50 | 3.50 | 3.50 | 3.50 |
Electoral Process | 3.25 | 3.25 | 3.25 | 3.25 | 3.25 | 3.25 | 3.25 | 3.25 | 3.25 | 3.00 |
Civil Society | 2.75 | 2.75 | 2.75 | 2.75 | 2.50 | 2.50 | 2.50 | 2.75 | 2.75 | 2.75 |
Independent Media | 4.00 | 3.75 | 4.00 | 4.00 | 4.00 | 4.00 | 4.00 | 4.00 | 4.00 | 4.00 |
Local Democratic Governance | 3.75 | 3.75 | 3.75 | 3.75 | 3.75 | 3.75 | 3.75 | 3.75 | 3.75 | 3.75 |
Judicial Framework and Independence | 4.25 | 4.25 | 4.25 | 4.25 | 4.25 | 4.25 | 4.25 | 4.50 | 4.50 | 4.50 |
Corruption | 4.75 | 4.50 | 4.50 | 4.50 | 4.25 | 4.00 | 4.00 | 4.00 | 4.00 | 4.25 |
Democracy Score | 3.75 | 3.64 | 3.71 | 3.71 | 3.64 | 3.61 | 3.61 | 3.68 | 3.68 | 3.68 |
NOTE: The ratings reflect the consensus of Freedom House, its academic advisers, and the author(s) of this report. If consensus cannot be reached, Freedom House is responsible for the final ratings. The ratings are based on a scale of 1 to 7, with 1 representing the highest level of democratic progress and 7 the lowest. The Democracy Score is an average of ratings for the categories tracked in a given year. The opinions expressed in this report are those of the author(s).
Croatia’s political elite spent most of 2015 sparring over ideological differences rather than getting on with the business of governance and reforms, or dealing with the sluggish economy and high unemployment rate. New, old, and imagined ideological cleavages dominated many aspects of political, economic, and social life. The narrow margin of victory in the second round of the presidential election in January, at less than 1 percent, illustrated these divisions, as did the close results of the early November parliamentary elections and the parties’ inability to form a government for most of November and December.
The candidate of the right-wing Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, won the January presidential elections, defeating the incumbent, Ivo Josipović, in a close race. The November 8 parliamentary election was also won by a HDZ-led coalition. The results—specifically the strong third-place showing of the independent MOST (Bridge) coalition—revealed that a considerable segment of the electorate was fed up with the traditional options and wanted to try something else. MOST, acting as the kingmaker between HDZ and the incumbent Social Democratic Party (SDP), eventually decided to throw in its lot with HDZ, but it remained unclear whether and how this new actor would be able to influence the government in the year ahead.
The presidential campaign also ushered in a period of ideological answers to complex policy problems from both the right and the left. On the left, for example, civil society calls for the elimination of loans denominated in Swiss francs were based more on social or moral considerations than on economic reasoning. Many on the right adopted a nationalist agenda, opposing minority language rights in specific towns and demanding perpetual special status for veterans.
Separately during the year, major court decisions rolled back previous gains on corruption prosecutions. The rulings raised suspicions that the judiciary was acting on political motives in anticipation of HDZ’s expected return to power. The fact that courts found procedural errors in all of the major cases against former HDZ prime minister Ivo Sanader not only cast doubt on the quality of the judicial system, but also reflected a certain tolerance for corruption in the society. While corruption has become less acceptable than before, and the public is strongly critical of the political classes in general, major public figures—such as a former prime minister, a capital city mayor, a football club manager, and a convicted war criminal—are still able to count on a significant level of popular support and gain access to suspicious funds while fighting charges.
The media did little to investigate politicians or persuade the public to think differently about corruption or policy matters. The editorial tone in most outlets ranges from bland to politically friendly or clearly partisan, and those that carry alternative views or information continue to fight for economic survival.
The arrival of the refugee crisis in September seemed to rouse the public and politicians from their relative torpor. During the first days of the reception of thousands of refugees, the government was proud of its performance. When the true scale of the problem sunk in, however, panic and spats with Serbia, Slovenia, and Hungary soon followed. By the end of the year, over 550,000 refugees had passed through Croatia. Determination to help the refugees was and continues to be a governmental policy and a popular social stance. Yet the crisis accentuated the increasingly divergent views of the right-leaning HDZ and the center-left SDP, which in turn reflect a real social divide.
Score changes:
As a result, Croatia’s Democracy Score remained unchanged at 3.68.
Outlook for 2016: The appearance of the independent political coalition MOST challenged the long-standing dominance of HDZ and SDP. While the MOST-HDZ government has now been formed, it is unclear whether and how MOST will exert influence. The group could serve as a catalyst for accelerated reforms, namely in public administration and economic policies; it could also rein in the ideological excesses of its coalition partner. Yet there is a danger that MOST will simply be trapped between the two major parties, which have deep and broad interests in maintaining the status quo.
Regardless of MOST’s role, the country faces a difficult year. The economic situation requires urgent policy measures. The designated prime minister, a nonpartisan businessman, could begin to address these, but he will have a number of other concerns: Political polarization will remain intense, the refugee flows may continue, and wider European Union politics suggest that Croatia and its neighbors will be hard pressed to manage their relations while adhering to humanitarian principles. Therefore the extent to which the incoming government can advance new ideas and sustain the energy needed to get results remains to be seen.
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
3.50 |
3.25 |
3.50 |
3.50 |
3.50 |
3.50 |
3.50 |
3.50 |
3.50 |
3.50 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
3.25 |
3.25 |
3.25 |
3.25 |
3.25 |
3.25 |
3.25 |
3.25 |
3.25 |
3.00 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2.75 |
2.75 |
2.75 |
2.75 |
2.50 |
2.50 |
2.50 |
2.75 |
2.75 |
2.75 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
4.00 |
3.75 |
4.00 |
4.00 |
4.00 |
4.00 |
4.00 |
4.00 |
4.00 |
4.00 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
3.75 |
3.75 |
3.75 |
3.75 |
3.75 |
3.75 |
3.75 |
3.75 |
3.75 |
3.75 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
4.25 |
4.25 |
4.25 |
4.25 |
4.25 |
4.25 |
4.25 |
4.50 |
4.50 |
4.50 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
4.75 |
4.50 |
4.50 |
4.50 |
4.25 |
4.00 |
4.00 |
4.00 |
4.00 |
4.25 |
Author: Petar Dorić
Petar Dorić is a journalist and analyst based in Spilt, Croatia. He holds a Masters of International Relations from the City College of New York.
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[3]“ Croatian Army Petitioned to Adopt Fascist Slogan,” Balkans Insight, 25 August 2015, http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/3-200-signatories-plea-for-fascist-chant-in-croatian-army-08-25-2015
[4] “Migrant crisis: Croatia President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic backs border fence,” International Business Times, 14 October 2015, http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/migrant-crisis-croatia-president-kolinda-grabar-kitarovic-backs-border-fence-1524002
[5] “Migrant crisis: Croatia President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic backs border fence,” International Business Times, 14 October 2015, http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/migrant-crisis-croatia-president-kolinda-grabar-kitarovic-backs-border-fence-1524002
[6] “Ostojic: Pokazalo se da nikakvi zidovi, puske, ni oruzje ne mogu rijesiti ovakvu krizu,” [Ostojic: It is proven that walls, guns or ammunition can not solve refuge crisis], Novi List, 20 September 2015, http://www.novilist.hr/Vijesti/Hrvatska/Ostojic-Pokazalo-se-da-nikakvi-zidovi-puske-oruzje-ne-mogu-rijesiti-ovakvu-krizu and “Četveroboj Milanović-Vučić-Orban-Karamarko,” HRT, 24 September 2015,
http://www.hrt.hr/300340/vijesti/cetveroboj-milanovic-vucic-orban-karamarko
[7] “Slovenci ne mogu doći sebi: Hrvati su neetični, prisluškivanje je kriminal” [Slovenians lost it: Croatians are not ethical as wiretapping is illegal!], Tportal.hr, 24 July 2015, http://www.tportal.hr/vijesti/svijet/390389/Slovenci-ne-mogu-doci-sebi-Hrvati-su-neeticni-prisluskivanje-je-kriminal.html
[8] “Potpuni resultati izbori,” [Complete election results], State Electoral Commission of Croatia, http://www.izbori.hr/140zas/rezult/1/nrezultati.html#close
[9] State Electoral Commission of the Republic of Croatia, http://www.izbori.hr/ws/index.html?documentId=96879D17360762D2C1257C6600435493
[11] Ethnic minority representatives won 8 seats. The smaller groupings were the Our Own Right coalition (3), the Croatian Democratic Alliance of Slavonia and Baranja (HDSSB, 2), the Labor and Solidarity Coalition (2), the Successful Croatia coalition (1), and Živi zid (Live Wall, 1). http://www.rezultati-izbora.com
[12] “Croatia's president hands businessman Oreskovic mandate to form govt,” SeeNews, 24 December 2015, http://wire.seenews.com/news/update-1-croatias-president-hands-businessman-oreskovic-mandate-to-form-govt-506802
[13] “Serb Minority Rights Scripted Out in Croatia,” Balkan Insight, 2 September 2015, http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/serb-minority-rights-scripted-out-in-croatia-09-02-2015
[14] “Policija istražuje odgovornost za plinske boce u Savskoj i napad na policajca na Markovu trgu” [Police are investigating who is responsible for gas containers in Savska street and attack on policemen at St. Marko’s Square], Večernji list, 29 May 2015, http://www.vecernji.hr/hrvatska/policija-istrazuje-odgovornost-za-plinske-boce-u-savskoj-i-napad-na-policajca-na-markovu-trg-1007998
[15] “Tko su akademici i biskupi koji traže od Kolinde da ‘‘Za dom spremni” postane u službeni pozdrav HV-a,”
[Who are the academics and bishops that are asking President Kolinda to (re)adopt the military slogan ‘za dom spremi’ for the Croatian Army], Croative, 25 August 2015, http://croative.net/?p=35860
[16] “Profesor slucaj I Vesna Terselic,” [Problematic professor and Vesna Terselic], Novi List, 20 May 2015, http://www.novilist.hr/Komentari/Kolumne/Trafika-Predraga-Lucica/Profesor-Slucaj-i-Vesna-Terselic?meta_refresh=true
[17] “Teacher Strike in Schools in Croatia Continues,” Total Croatia News, 29 September 2015, http://www.total-croatia-news.com/politics/1016-teacher-strike-in-schools-in-croatia-continues
[18] “29. sjednica programskog vijeca HRTa,” [HRT; Editorial Council Session no 29], HRT, 6 July 2015, http://www.hrt.hr/uploads/media/Zapisnik_s_29._sjednice_Programskog_vijeca.pdf
[19] See Nations in Transit 2015 for details.
[20] “Pavić: Ne znam hoću li ikad više raditi u medijima” [Pavić: I do not know if I’ll ever work in the media], Tportal.hr, 6 January 2015, http://www.tportal.hr/biznis/kompanije/364803/Pavic-Ne-znam-hocu-li-ikad-vise-raditi-u-medijima.html?utm_source=clanci&utm_medium=manual2&utm_campaign=clanci_manual
[21] “Slobodna Dalmacija otkazala suradnju Borisu Dežuloviću” [Slobodna Dalmacija fired Boris Dežulović], Dalmatinski portal, 12 Jun e 2015, http://dalmatinskiportal.hr/vijesti/slobodna-dalmacija-otkazala-suradnju-borisu-dezulovicu/5289
[22] “Katja Kušec poručila: Nema raskola jer jedinstva nije ni bilo” [Katja Kušec says: There is no division since there was never unity], Večernji list, 4 July 2015, http://www.vecernji.hr/hrvatska/katja-kusec-porucila-nema-raskola-jer-jedinstva-nije-ni-bilo-1013314
[23] “Sasa Lekovic, New President of Croatian Journalists’ Association,” South East European Network for Professionalization of Media, 30 April 2015, http://seenpm.org/sasa-lekovic-new-president-of-croatian-journalists-association-2/, http://www.portalnovosti.com/crveni-ustase
[24] “Crveni ustaše” [Red Ustashas], Portal novosti, 12 September 2015, http://www.portalnovosti.com/crveni-ustase; “Puca mi dalmatinski đilet(in) za hercegbosanske komemoracije!” [I could care less about Herzegovinian commemorations!], Tačno.net, 11 February 2015, http://www.tacno.net/novosti/puca-mi-dalmatinski-diletin-za-hercegbosanske-komemoracije/
[25] “Counties,” Croatia.eu, accessed 1 June 2016, http://croatia.eu/article.php?lang=2&id=30
[26] “Vukovar no longer with bilingual signs in city institutions,” Dalje.com, 17 August 2015, http://arhiva.dalje.com/en-croatia/vukovar-no-longer-with-bilingual-signs-in-city-institutions/552955
[27] The Constitutional Court’s decision can be found here: http://sljeme.usud.hr/usud/praksaw.nsf/Novosti/C12570D30061CE54C1257E8F00464B23?OpenDocument
[28] Ibid.
[29] “Branimir Glavaš ostajena slobodi, odbijena žalba tužiteljstva” [Branimir Glavaš stays free, prosecution’s requests are denied], Jutarnji Vijesti, 25 May 2015, http://www.jutarnji.hr/branimir-glavas-ostaje-na-slobodi-odbijena-zalba-tuziteljstva-za-povratak-u-istrazni-zatvor/1355031/
[30] “Treba li Hrvatskoj Ustavni sud?” [Does Croatia need a Constitutional Court?], Telegram, 17 April 2015, http://www.telegram.hr/price/treba-li-hrvatskoj-ustavni-sud/
[31] “Vrag nosi pravdu” [The Devil wears justice], Peščanik, 12 October 2015, http://pescanik.net/vrag-nosi-pravdu/
[32] “Antiratna spisateljica prijavljena za ratni zlocin,” [Anti-war writer that is reported in war crime involvement], Lupiga.com, 26 November 2015, http://lupiga.com/vijesti/antiratna-spisateljica-prijavljena-za-ratni-zlocin-od-2009-godine-policija-provodi-kriminalisticko-istrazivanje-a-svjedoke-nitko-nije-ni-kontaktirao
[33] “Alarmantno izvjesce iz DORHa: Ne mogu goniti kriminalce,” [Alarm Report from DORH: We can not chase criminals], Arhiva, 19 June 2012, http://arhiva.nacional.hr/clanak/131590/bajicev-apel-ne-mogu-goniti-kriminalce
[34] “Court Frees Former Croatian PM Sanader,” Balkan Insight, 25 November 2015, http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/ex-croatian-pm-released-from-custody-prison-11-25-2015
[35] “Milan Bandic Gets Zagreb Mayoral Duties Back,” Croatia Week, 13 April 2015, http://www.croatiaweek.com/milan-bandic-gets-zagreb-mayoral-duties-back/; “Zagreb mayor forfeits EUR 2m bail,” EUBusiness, 19 March 2015, http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/croatia-politics.10dw
[36] “Braća Mamić i Vrbanović na slobodi” [Mamić brothers and Vrbanović are free], HRT Radio Sljeme, 15 July 2015, http://radio.hrt.hr/radio-sljeme/clanak/lokalne/braca-mamic-i-vrbanovic-na-slobodi/96642//96642/
[37] “USKOK istražuje tko je provalio tajni nadzor telefona: Ispitat će i sutkinju koja je uhvaćena u dogovorima s Mamićem?” [USKOK investigating who leaked telephone surveillance: Will it also examine judge who was caught in arrangements with Mamić?], Telegram, 3 November 2015, http://www.telegram.hr/politika-kriminal/uskok-otvara-istragu-tko-je-provalio-nadzor-telefona-ispitat-ce-i-sutkinju-koja-je-uhvacena-u-tajnim-dogovorima-s-mamicem/
Nations in Transit 2016 - Albania (Periodical Report, English)