HDZ admits to voting error in passage of Criminal Procedures Act

In an unusual reversal in the Croatian Parliament on Tuesday, the ruling HDZ party admitted there had been a miscount in last Friday’s vote on the Criminal Procedures Act and said the bill would be sent back to lawmakers.

The admission came after the opposition party Možemo announced plans to ask the Constitutional Court to review whether the act was properly passed. HDZ MP Nikola Mažar said it was an honest mistake — the act received 75 votes instead of the required 76. Možemo claims the HDZ knew they were one vote short but went ahead with the process anyway.

“They did not have a majority of votes. Speaker Jandroković pretended not to see it. He announced that it had passed, and as such, the law was published on the Sabor’s website,” said Možemo MP Sandra Benčić.

Mažar stressed that the law never formally took effect because the error was discovered before it could be signed.

“What’s important is that there were no legal consequences — the law did not go into effect. Once the issue was identified, the Speaker did not sign the bill into law. It will be returned to the chamber for first and second readings and to the committees. I believe it will then receive 76 or more votes and take effect,” Mažar said.