They Only Have Themselves to Blame

Elections in Croatia and Serbia have another thing in common – reformist parties attributed to their poor election results by mishandling electoral legislation.

In case of Croatia, Račan's (Racan's) government left 1999 election law unchanged, thus keeping election districts gerrymandered in order to give extra votes for HDZ.

In case of Serbia, ruling reformists changed the electoral laws raising the limit for entry into Parliament from 2% to 5%. The idea was to reduce number of parties in Parliament and thus make simpler and smoother coalitions. Problem for Serbian reformers was in most of thus excluded parties being their natural allies, including Muslim, Magyar and Croat minority parties. Some of them joined forces, but in vain, getting 4% and staying out of Parliament. Now reformers must make deals with monarchists.