The Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) has filed a complaint with the Constitutional Court against a decision by the State Election Commission of November 18 approving the candidacy of Natalija Martincevic for the forthcoming parliamentary election, who was nominated by the centre-left opposition coalition led by the Social Democrats to replace Goran Habus in Constituency No. 3.
The HDZ recalled in a statement on Monday that the opposition coalition "on November 16, owing to public pressure, removed Goran Habus from the slate and nominated, on the same day, Natalija Martincevic, as his replacement."
The party warned that the election legislation does not provide for the possibility of replacing a candidate who has given up their candidacy or has been removed from a slate, after the prescribed deadline has expired.
The HDZ also warned that the problem could bring into question the principle of equality of participants in the election process.
The SDP-led opposition coalition said last week that Martincevic would replace Habus on its list of candidates in Constituency No. 3, which covers Krapina-Zagorje, Varazdin and Medjimurje counties, in the coming parliamentary election. Habus, a member of the Croatian People's Party (HNS) who was recently elected mayor of Varazdin, caused a minor drunk driving accident some ten days ago.
