Zagreb - The Croatian Parliament's Presidency on Monday discussed proposed amendments to the parliamentary rules of procedure, with intra-coalition consultations nearing completion. Wider talks with the opposition will follow.
The 9th parliamentary session will begin on 15 January 2026 and run until 27 March, following the usual pattern of three weeks of sittings, a one-week fieldwork break, and then another three weeks of sittings. The agenda includes 99 items, many carried over from the previous session, with 16 new items already submitted for parliamentary procedure. Additional items arriving before the session will also be added.
Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković said the amendments aim to shorten debates, allowing ten-minute speeches for party groups and five minutes individually, redefine rule violations, potentially increase the number of replies, and prevent intra-group repetitions. Modernising the morning question period is also under discussion.
He expects the new rules of procedure to be adopted at the next session of Parliament.
Christmas Constitution" anniversary
Jandroković noted that 22 December 1990 marked the adoption of Croatia's first constitution, the so-called "Christmas Constitution", which laid the legal foundation for decisions on Croatian independence, sovereignty and democracy. He highlighted its enduring relevance, despite five amendments (1997, 2000, 2001, 2010 and 2014).
He paid tribute to all involved in its adoption, from President Franjo Tuđman to the deputies of the time, and recalled the subsequent independence referendum and 1991 decisions on sovereignty.
Jandroković stressed that the former Yugoslavia was a totalitarian state lacking basic freedoms, including freedom of the press and of association, and multi-party democracy. The Christmas Constitution rejected the communist legacy and defined Croatia as a democratic state with the rule of law and protection of human and minority rights, he said.