Croatian parliament calls for greater Croat representation in Bosnia

On 15 July 2026, Croatia's parliament passed a symbolic resolution calling for greater Croat representation in Bosnia, adding pressure on the neighbouring country before national elections due later in the year.

The resolution targets Bosnia's power-sharing system, which has remained divided along ethnic lines since the 1992-95 conflict. Bosnia is split into largely autonomous Serb and Muslim-Croat halves. Its state presidency is shared by representatives of the Bosniak, Serb and Croat communities.

Croats have long complained that, because they are outnumbered by Bosniaks in the Muslim-Croat entity, their representative is largely chosen by Bosniak voters. Croatia's right-wing Homeland Movement party, which is part of the ruling coalition, pushed the resolution. It calls for electoral changes that would guarantee that each ethnic group can choose its own representatives.

The proposal would further divide Bosnia's political structure along ethnic lines by creating a separate electoral constituency for Croats. Bosniak leaders have repeatedly opposed such a move. The resolution passed with support from 83 members of Croatia's 151-seat parliament.

The vote comes amid long-running political gridlock in Bosnia and continued threats of secession by its Serb entity. Bosnia is also waiting for a new international envoy after German diplomat Christian Schmidt resigned as high representative in May, citing what he called huge and unexpected pressure from Washington. The high representative post has overseen the peace accords since the war ended.

In recent weeks, the United States has signalled that it wants the high representative's broad powers to be reduced, while Croat and Serb leaders have called for the role to be scrapped entirely.