Sabor

Sabor
Name	Sabor
Native name	Hrvatski sabor
Legislature	Parliament of Croatia
House type	Unicameral
Foundation	10th century (historical), 1990 (modern)
Leader1 type	Speaker
Leader1	Gordan Jandroković
Election1	5 May 2017
Members	151
Political groups1	Government (78), Croatian Democratic Union (62), Independent Democratic Serb Party (3), Civic Liberal Alliance (1), Minority representatives (8), Opposition (73), Social Democratic Party of Croatia (20), The Bridge (11), We can! (10), Homeland Movement (9), Croatian Sovereignists (6), Centre (3), Focus (3), Croatian Social Liberal Party (2), People's Party - Reformists (1), Social Democrats (1), Croatian Demochristian Party (1), Non-inscrits (6)
Voting system1	Open list D'Hondt method with a 5% threshold
Last election1	17 April 2024
Meeting place	St. Mark's Square, Zagreb
Website	www.sabor.hr

Sabor. The Sabor is the unicameral legislature and supreme representative body of the Republic of Croatia. Its origins trace back to medieval assemblies, with the modern institution established following the first multi-party elections in 1990. As the seat of national sovereignty, it holds central legislative and oversight authority within the Croatian political system.

Etymology and meaning

The term "Sabor" derives from the Proto-Slavic word for assembly, closely related to the Slovene "zbor" and the Serbo-Croatian "sabirati", meaning to gather. Historically, the name was used for various deliberative bodies across the South Slavic lands, including the Diet of Hungary and the Parliament of Serbia. In contemporary usage, it specifically denotes the national parliament in Zagreb, distinguishing it from other regional assemblies like the Parliament of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

History

The earliest recorded sessions date to the 10th century under rulers like King Tomislav, who convened noble assemblies. During the period of the Kingdom of Croatia, these gatherings evolved, with significant developments occurring under the Pacta Conventa with the Kingdom of Hungary. The Sabor's continuity was maintained through the union with Hungary, the Habsburg monarchy, and the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, where it was known as the Parliament of the Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia. It was formally abolished after World War II under the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, before being reinstated during the Croatian Spring and fully reconstituted after the 1990 elections that preceded the Croatian War of Independence.

Composition and election

The Sabor is composed of 151 representatives elected for four-year terms through a system of open list proportional representation using the D'Hondt method. Elections are overseen by the State Election Commission of the Republic of Croatia. Of the total seats, 140 are elected from ten constituencies within Croatia, eight are reserved for representatives of the recognized national minorities including the Serb and Italian communities, and three are allocated for the Croatian diaspora. Major political parties represented include the Croatian Democratic Union, the Social Democratic Party of Croatia, and The Bridge.

Powers and functions

The Sabor exercises legislative power, enacts the state constitution, approves the state budget, and ratifies international treaties such as those with the European Union and NATO. It confirms the appointment of the Prime Minister and the Government of Croatia, and has the authority to declare war and state of emergency. The body also elects members to key institutions including the Constitutional Court of Croatia, the Croatian Ombudsman, and the Governor of the Croatian National Bank. Furthermore, it grants amnesty for criminal offenses and oversees the work of the security services.

Legislative procedure

Legislation typically originates from the Government of Croatia, individual representatives, or parliamentary committees. Bills undergo three readings, with debates held in plenary sessions presided over by the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament. Key committees, such as the Committee on the Constitution, Standing Orders and Political System, review proposals. Most laws require a simple majority vote, while constitutional amendments need a two-thirds supermajority. The process concludes with the promulgation of acts by the President of Croatia, who may return a bill for reconsideration.

Relationship with other institutions

The Sabor interacts closely with the President of Croatia, who addresses it annually and calls for elections. It provides confidence to the Government headed by the Prime Minister and can pass a motion of no confidence. The judiciary, particularly the Constitutional Court of Croatia, reviews the constitutionality of its acts. On the international stage, the Sabor delegates members to the European Parliament and cooperates with bodies like the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Its building is located in St. Mark's Square in Zagreb, near other key institutions like the Constitutional Court of Croatia and the Office of the President of Croatia.

Category:National legislatures Category:Politics of Croatia