At stake in this election:

• The office of President of Croatia

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Stjepan MESIC
• Head of Government: Prime Minister Ivo SANADER
• Assembly: Croatia has a unicameral assembly (Sabor) with 152 seats.

Description of electoral system:

• The President is elected by popular vote to serve a 5-year term.
• In the assembly (Sabor) 152 members are elected by popular vote to serve 4-year terms.

Main Candidates in the Second Round of the Presidential race:

• Stjepan MESIC*
  • Party: Social Democratic Party of Croatia (SDP)
• Jadranka KOSOR
  • Party: Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ)

* Stjepan MESIC is represented by the Social Democratic Party of Croatia (SDP), Croatian People's Party (HNS), Croatian Peasant Party (HSS), Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS), Liberal Party (LS), Littoral and Highland Region Alliance (PGS), Democratic Action Party of Croatia (SDA HRVATSKE), and Party of Liberal Democrats (LIBRA)

Main Candidates in the First Round of the Presidential race:

• Stjepan MESIC*
  • Party: Social Democratic Party of Croatia (SDP)
• Jadranka KOSOR**
  • Party: Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ)
• Boris MIKŠIC
  • Party: Independent Candidate
• Durda ADLEŠIC****
  • Party: Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS)
• Slaven LETICA*****
  • Party: Croatian Party of Rights (HSP)
• Ljubo CESIC
  • Party: Independent Candidate
• Ivic PAŠALIC
  • Party: Croatian Bloc - Movement for a Modern Croatia (HB-PZMH)
• Anto KOVACEVIC
  • Party: Croatian Christian Democratic Union (HKDU)
• Miroslav BLAZEVIC
  • Party: Veteran's Party (SHB)
• Miroslav RAJH
  • Party: Croatian Youth Party (HSM)
• Doris KOŠTA
  • Party: Independent
• Mladen KEŠER
  • Party: Independent 
• Tomislav PETRAK
  • Party: Croatian Populace Party (HPS)

* MESIC is represented by the Social Democratic Party of Croatia (SDP), Croatian People's Party (HNS), Croatian Peasant Party (HSS), Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS), Liberal Party (LS), Littoral and Highland Region Alliance (PGS), Democratic Action Party of Croatia (SDA HRVATSKE), and Party of Liberal Democrats (LIBRA)
 

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population: 4,496,869 (July 2004 estimate)
• Registered Voters: 4,403,933 (January 2005 )

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 2,302,806 (2005)

·         Is Croatia a signatory to CEDAW: No

·         Has Croatia ratified CEDAW: Yes, succession (9 September 1992)

·         Gender Quota: Yes

·         Female candidates in this election: Yes

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 27 (following the 2003 elections)

·         Human Development Index Position: 47 (2014)

·         Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: N/A

Disability Data:

·         Is Croatia a signatory to CRPD: Yes (30 March 2007)

·         Has Croatia ratified CRPD: Yes (15 August 2007)

·         Population with a disability: 674,530 (est.)