Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina is a major political party representing the Croatian population in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Founded in 1990 as a branch of the original Croatian Democratic Union from Croatia, it became a dominant force in Croat-majority areas during the Bosnian War. The party advocates for the constitutional reform to ensure Croatian political equality within the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the wider state.

History

The party was established on 18 August 1990 in Sarajevo by figures including Stjepan Kljuić and Davorin Perinović, inspired by the success of Franjo Tuđman's Croatian Democratic Union in Croatia. During the Breakup of Yugoslavia and the ensuing Bosnian War, the party's leadership, under Mate Boban, was instrumental in proclaiming the Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia in 1992, which allied with the Croatian Army and the Croatian Defence Council against the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Croat–Bosniak War. Following the Washington Agreement in 1994, it became a constituent party within the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina as outlined by the Dayton Agreement. Post-war, under leaders like Bozo Ljubić and Dragan Čović, it has focused on advocating for Croatian electoral rights, often challenging the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina and supporting the creation of a third, Croat-majority federal unit.

Ideology and political positions

The party's core ideology is centered on Croatian nationalism and the protection of Croatian national interests within the complex political system of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It promotes conservative and Christian democratic values, emphasizing the preservation of Croatian linguistic and cultural identity. A central and persistent political demand is the reform of the electoral system for the Bosnian Presidency and the House of Peoples to prevent the outvoting of Croatian representatives, a stance that has led to political crises and appeals to the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina. The party strongly opposes any centralization of the state that would diminish the autonomy of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Electoral performance

The party has consistently won the majority of the Croatian vote in elections for the state-level House of Representatives and the Federation entity parliament. It typically secures the Croatian seat in the tripartite Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with members like Željko Komšić (elected by predominantly Bosniak voters) being a focal point of its criticism. In the 2018 and 2022 general elections, it maintained its dominance, though it faces competition from parties like the People and Justice and the Croatian National Assembly. Its power base is concentrated in West Herzegovina Canton, Canton 10, and the city of Mostar, where it holds a strong majority in the City Council of Mostar.

Structure and leadership

The party's supreme body is its Main Committee, with its presidency led by a president. Dragan Čović, a former member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, has been the party's long-standing president since 2005. The party structure is organized through municipal boards in Croat-majority areas, with significant influence over local governments and institutions. It maintains close ties with and holds a dominant position within the Croatian National Assembly, an advisory body established to unify Croatian political representatives. Key figures in its history and current operations include Martin Raguž and Bozo Ljubić.

International relations and affiliations

The party is an associate member of the European People's Party, the largest political group in the European Parliament, and a full member of the Centrist Democrat International. These affiliations align it with mainstream European Christian democratic and conservative movements. It fosters strong bilateral relations with the Croatian Democratic Union in Croatia and maintains connections with other right-wing parties in Central Europe. The party's advocacy for Croatian rights often involves engaging with international institutions like the OSCE and appealing to the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Category:Political parties in Bosnia and Herzegovina Category:Croatian political parties Category:Christian democratic parties in Europe Category:Nationalist parties in Bosnia and Herzegovina