Croatia Constitutional Court faces crisis as judges boycott sessions

Constitutional Court of Croatia Frane Staničić Andrej Plenković judicial boycott audio recording dispute

The Constitutional Court of Croatia is experiencing a functional crisis after three judges—Andrej Abramović, Sanja Bezbradica Jelavić, and Lovorka Kušan—refused to participate in sessions. The boycott is a protest against the introduction of audio recording of deliberations and meetings, a measure intended to ensure the accuracy of minutes following disputes over previous records.

Constitutional Court President Frane Staničić has called on the Croatian Parliament to urgently elect three missing judges to restore the court to full capacity. The current impasse threatens to delay the resolution of legal cases and may prevent the court from reaching the necessary quorum for certain decisions.

Political leaders have reacted sharply to the deadlock. Prime Minister Andrej Plenković characterized the boycott as an obstruction potentially driven by political mandates from the left-wing opposition. Conversely, the SDP has accused the ruling HDZ of failing to reach agreements on candidate selections, while the Most party criticized the politicization of the judicial appointment process.

Entities

Andrej Abramović · Andrej Plenković · Constitutional Court of Croatia · Frane Staničić · HDZ · Lovorka Kušan · SDP · Sanja Bezbradica Jelavić

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 4 SOURCES] Frane Staničić called on the Croatian Parliament to elect three missing judges without further delay. ogportal.com · glas-slavonije.hr · www.index.hr
[○ 1 SOURCE] The court has been operating with ten out of the planned thirteen judges since April. www.index.hr
[● 3 SOURCES] Prime Minister Andrej Plenković stated the boycott is an obstruction by judges proposed by the left-wing opposition. prigorski.hr · n1info.hr · www.vecernji.hr
[● 5 SOURCES] Three judges, Andrej Abramović, Sanja Bezbradica Jelavić, and Lovorka Kušan, are boycotting Constitutional Court sessions. ogportal.com · glas-slavonije.hr · vijesti.hrt.hr · www.index.hr
[○ 1 SOURCE] The SDP has announced it will support candidates Goran Selenec and Ana Horvat Vuković. www.dnevno.hr
[● 4 SOURCES] The dispute over the accuracy of minutes began in May 2026. ogportal.com · glas-slavonije.hr · www.index.hr
[● 2 SOURCES] Audio recording of sessions began on October 1st. www.index.hr
[● 5 SOURCES] The judges' condition for returning to work is the cessation of audio recording of sessions and professional meetings. ogportal.com · prigorski.hr · glas-slavonije.hr · www.index.hr