THE RIGHT TO POLITICAL REPRESENTATION FOR MEMBERS OF NATIONAL MINORITIES IN THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA, 1990-2004

The goal of this article is to analyse the changes in the normative regulations concerning the political representation of members of national minorities in the Republic of Croatia in 1990-2004. These regulations are contrasted with their practical use. Furthermore, attention is turned to the political dimension of these issues, visible through the incessant amendments to regulations. The period from 1990 to 2004 was selected due to the fact that the first legal regulations governing this question were introduced in the Republic of Croatia in 1990, while 2004 saw the final constitution of the last bodies representing this group of citizens provided by law. Moreover, the author aims to prove that on their own normative regulations – even if favourable for minorities – are never sufficient to speak about protection of minority rights, if the good will to respect them in practice is missing