Croatia Politics Explained, Who Holds Power in 2026
CROATIA · POLITICS
Key Facts
- —Government Andrej Plenković, prime minister and leader of the centre-right Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), has governed since 2016.
- —Latest vote On 21 October parliament rejected a no-confidence motion by 79 votes to 55; 76 were needed to topple the cabinet.
- —Trigger Illegally dumped hazardous waste near Gospić, a town in Lika, a region of central Croatia. Remediation is planned for at least 44,000 tonnes.
- —Head of state Zoran Milanović, a former Social Democratic prime minister, is the directly elected president with limited powers.
- —Next election Parliamentary elections are due by spring 2028; the last was on 17 April 2024.
Who Holds Power in Zagreb
Croatia is a parliamentary republic, so real power sits with the prime minister and the cabinet. Andrej Plenković has led the government since 2016 and heads the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), the country’s dominant centre-right party.
This guide is part of The Rio Times series on European politics. See also our guides to Spain and Germany’s AfD debate.
The president, Zoran Milanović, is elected directly and commands the armed forces. He is a former prime minister of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and often clashes publicly with Plenković.
How the Sabor Is Divided
The Sabor, as Croatia’s single-chamber parliament is called, has 151 seats. After the April 2024 election the HDZ and its partners hold 61, while a coalition led by the SDP holds 42.
The Homeland Movement (DP), a nationalist party led by Ivan Penava, has 14 seats and is Plenković’s coalition partner. The conservative Most party has 11, the green-left Možemo platform has 10, and eight seats are reserved for national minorities.
The No-Confidence Vote of 21 October
On Wednesday 21 October the Sabor rejected a no-confidence motion against the government, with 79 votes against and 55 in favour. A total of 136 deputies took part, and 76 votes were needed to remove the cabinet.
The SDP, led by Siniša Hajdaš Dončić, filed the motion. According to reports, it was the 44th opposition attempt to unseat Plenković in a decade.
The Gospić Waste Scandal
The motion followed revelations about hazardous waste illegally dumped near Gospić. The opposition says institutions knew of the problem since 2022 but failed to act or warn residents.
Croatia’s anti-corruption prosecutor, known as USKOK, published an expert report on 6 August. It found so-called forever chemicals (PFAS) in groundwater below the site at 200.5 nanograms per litre, twice the 100 nanogram drinking-water limit used in Croatia and the EU.
The Clean-Up Plan and the Blame Game
The government has presented a remediation plan covering at least 44,000 tonnes of waste. About 33,000 tonnes of it is buried waste, a mixture of hazardous and non-hazardous material.
The first phase would remove about 4,500 tonnes of scattered hazardous waste within 12 months for nearly €9 million (about US$10 million). The conversion uses EUR/USD 1.1167 on 27 October.
Coalition Strains and Fresh Appointments
The governing HDZ answered the opposition by pointing to the Jakuševec landfill in Zagreb, which is run by the opposition-led city administration. Nikola Grmoja, a Most party MP, said the government fell the day it let Lika be poisoned, as the debate grew heated.
The Homeland Movement voted with the government. On the same day deputies elected Dražen Miočić director of the public broadcaster HRT and made Armin Hodžić, a deputy of the Bosniak minority, vice-president of the Sabor.
Croatia in the EU and NATO
Croatia joined NATO in 2009 and the European Union in 2013. It adopted the euro and entered the Schengen travel zone on 1 January 2023.
Plenković has kept Zagreb firmly aligned with Brussels and Washington. His government’s positions on security and trade rarely diverge from the EU mainstream.
What It Means for US Readers
Croatia is a NATO ally and a euro-area economy on the Adriatic, so its political stability matters to US investors and security planners. A government that survives repeated confidence votes points to policy continuity on EU funds, defence and energy.
Americans travelling to Croatia face no change from the waste dispute, which is regional and tied to one site in Lika. Visitors should still check official travel guidance before departure.
What Is Not Known
It is not yet known whether the Gospić site has caused wider contamination beyond the groundwater findings, or who will bear legal responsibility. Prosecutors have not announced further charges in connection with the political debate.
No early election has been called, and the date of the next vote remains spring 2028 at the latest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Croatia’s prime minister in 2026?
Andrej Plenković, leader of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), has been prime minister since 2016. His government survived a no-confidence vote on 21 October 2026.
What does Croatia’s president do?
President Zoran Milanović is head of state and commander of the armed forces. He is directly elected, but executive power rests with the prime minister.
How did the no-confidence vote end?
Parliament rejected the motion on 21 October with 79 votes against and 55 in favour. At least 76 of the 151 deputies had to back it.
What is the Gospić waste scandal?
Hazardous waste was illegally dumped near Gospić in Lika. The government has presented a plan to remediate at least 44,000 tonnes.
When is Croatia’s next election?
Parliamentary elections are due by spring 2028, four years after the vote of 17 April 2024. No early election has been called.
Sources: Croatian Parliament (Sabor); Government of Croatia; State Election Commission of Croatia; President of Croatia; Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition; Office for Suppression of Corruption and Organised Crime (USKOK).
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
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