The right to vote of Croatian expatriates has long been the subject of debate and division in the public, and it has become especially relevant in this "super-election" year of 2024. After the European and parliamentary elections, the upcoming presidential elections once again raise the question of their right to vote. We asked the candidates for president of the Republic of Croatia for their opinion on this important topic. We present their answers below.
Candidate of the Dom and National Assembly party, Branka Lozo, believes that all Croatian citizens, regardless of where they live, should have the right to vote in order to strengthen their connection with their homeland and encourage eventual relocation to Croatia.
"Yes, I believe that all Croatian citizens should have the right to vote, regardless of where they live. I would also advocate for the possibility of postal or digital voting. The reason why I have this attitude is the fact that there are more Croats living outside Croatia than in their homeland, and by enabling voting, these Croats would have a more pronounced sense of belonging to their motherland, they would know that they too have an influence on the internal political organization of Croatia, so perhaps in a larger number decided to move to live in Croatia once", the scientist and university professor told Croatians Online.
"In this way, without the right to vote, they feel rejected, as if they want to completely separate them from their homeland as soon as possible. I am in favor of establishing as close ties as possible between the homeland and Croatia abroad," added Lozo.

The independent candidate points out that all Croatian citizens must have equal rights Marija Selak Raspudic, philosopher, bioethicist and current parliamentarian.
"All Croatian citizens must have equal rights, including the right to vote in elections. It is in the interest of every prudent state, especially one with strong demographic problems, to keep all its citizens together and motivate them to participate in its political processes with the prospect of returning to Croatia.
Given that our diaspora is scattered across the country in many parts of the country, in order for this right to be realized in practice, it is necessary to enable electronic and/or postal voting," Selak Raspudic told Croatians Online.

An independent candidate, an entrepreneur, also advocates for the modernization of the electoral system Niko Tokić Kartelo.
"I believe that emigrants, regardless of where they live, have the right to participate in elections because Croatia is their homeland. Postal voting solves the problem of a limited number of polling stations abroad. The participation of emigrants in the elections enriches our country and enables connection with Croats around the world.", said Tokić Kartelo.

"Certainly. It is explicitly written in my program," said the independent candidate Tomislav Jonjic and added that he is in favor of a constitutional reform that would include the introduction of a bicameral Croatian National Assembly.
"ZI complain that, as part of a complete constitutional reform, a bicameral Croatian State Parliament would be introduced, whereby Croats living outside the Republic of Croatia would elect the majority of representatives to the second chamber by letter or electronic means, who would be their authentic representatives, and not as before - especially since the time of Milanović's government - a handful of people actually installed in the Parliament by the HDZ leadership", Jonjić told Croatians Online.
A respected lawyer, publicist and historian emphasizes that Croats outside the Republic of Croatia "they deserve recognition for everything they have contributed to the liberation and defense of the Croatian thought and the Croatian state, and the homeland has the obligation to provide them with a stronger connection with it and the protection of their rights in it".
"If, for example, Croats from the North American continent really had a dozen of their own representatives in Parliament, then they could not be so bureaucratically bullied, blackmailed and prevented from investing in Croatia and their possible desire to move their business, including their descendants, to Croatia.", Jonjić told Croatians Online.

Ivana Kekin, candidate of the "Možemo" platform, believes that the issue of changes to the Constitution on the right to vote should be the subject of a broader public debate or referendum.
"Considering the huge number of people who have left Croatia since Plenković has been in power, for whom there is still hope that they will return to Croatia, in this sense, changes to the Constitution regarding who, when and where can vote for me are the subject of a wider public debate, and possibly statements of citizens at the referendum", said the doctor and member of parliament for Croatians Online.

Three presidential candidates - Zoran Milanović, Dragan Primorac and Miro Bulj - did not submit their answers to our question.
It is evident from the answers of the other presidential candidates that the majority support the right of Croatian emigrants to participate in the political life of Croatia. Candidates Tomislav Jonjić, Marija Selak Raspudić, Branka Lozo and Niko Tokić Kartelo also propose concrete measures such as the introduction of postal and electronic voting in order to make it easier for the diaspora to exercise this right. Also, most of the presidential candidates believe that the participation of the diaspora in the elections connects the expatriate and homeland Croatia, and highlights the important role of emigrants in shaping the future of our country.
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