Ethnic Croats elect new Croatian National Council in Serbia

The leaders of the Croatian minority were chosen indirectly, by 77 electors, at a session held in the Serbian National Assembly.

The electors are ethnic Croats who have gathered at least 60 certified signatures of support from their community. Of those 77 electors, 74 voted for the "Croats Together" slate led by the Democratic Alliance of Croats in Vojvodina (DSHV) and a few other Croat associations and prominent members from their community.

The DSHV leader Tomislav Zigmanov said after the election that the victory was ensured despite "obstructions in the organisation of the elections, the dissemination of defeatism and unfavourable political circumstances."

"Being committed to our unity, we have managed to win the confidence of a large number of citizens," he added.

Jasna Vojnic said that "the new, fourth Croatian National Council will evenly develop the institutions in all communities where members of the Croat minority live."

"The Council is meant to be a link with the (Catholic) Church, the motherland and with the majority nation as well as with all other ethnic minorities," she said.

In addition to the Croats, all other 22 ethnic minorities are also choosing their leadership on Sunday.

The new HNV was elected indirectly because there were not enough Croatian voters registered in a separate voter roll to allow them to hold direct elections.

Furthermore, three more minorities had their leadership chosen by electors: the Montenegrins, the Macedonians and the Russians, while 18 ethnic minorities elected the new leadership through a direct vote.