• On April 17, parliamentary elections will be held nationwide. Polling stations will open at 07:00 (local time) and close at 19:00. The official vote count is expected to commence immediately afterward.
• The President has declared a public holiday nationwide on the occasion of the election.
• The Croatian parliament was dissolved on March 14, with 142 out of 151 lawmakers backing the decision.
• The two major political parties contesting in the election are the Hrvatska Demokratska Zajednica (HDZ), led by the incumbent Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, and an alliance of centrist and left-wing parties informally led by populist President Zoran Milanovic and his Socijaldemokratska partija Hrvatske (SDP).
• Recent opinion polls indicate a victory for HDZ without a sufficient number of seats to form a majority government.

1. Political campaigning and spontaneous gatherings are liable in the vicinity of polling booths, major public spaces, and outside government buildings in Zagreb and other major cities in the coming days. Protests and gatherings are also likely to be held after the declaration of election results.
2. Such campaigns or gatherings are expected to transpire largely peacefully and without instances of major unrest. Regardless, security is expected to be heightened outside polling stations, key government buildings, and prominent public squares.
3. Disruptions to vehicular and pedestrian traffic are expected nationwide. Road traffic and public transport systems are expected to face congestion over the weekend with people moving to their registered districts to vote. Security cordons and preemptive road closures or diversions are likely to be set up, especially in Zagreb and other major cities.

Those operating or residing in Croatia on April 17 are advised to remain cognizant of authorities’ updates regarding the nationwide parliamentary elections and allot for travel-related disruptions in the vicinity of all polling stations and potential protests.