SLOVENIA is leading the pack.
Main Green or Green-Left Actors in Croatia
- Možemo! – Political Platform (We Can!)
This is a centre-left to left-wing green political platform formed from local green, leftist, municipalist, and social movements. It is the full member of the European Green Party from Croatia.
Key leaders: Tomislav Tomašević (mayor of Zagreb) and Sandra Benčić.- It first gained national attention by winning the 2021 Zagreb local elections (in coalition), marking the first major green-left administration in Croatia’s capital with a focus on eco-friendly policies, anti-corruption, and participatory governance.
- In the 2024 parliamentary elections, Možemo! won 4 seats in the Sabor (Croatian parliament) as part of the broader left-green opposition.
- In the 2024/2025 presidential election, their candidate Ivana Kekin received about 9% of the vote.
- They continue to perform strongly in Zagreb local elections (re-elected in 2025 with coalition partner SDP).
Core focuses: climate and environment, social justice, anti-corruption, progressive policies, conflict prevention, and international issues (e.g., calls for recognizing Palestine). europeangreens.eu
- Smaller Traditional Green Parties (mostly minor/non-parliamentary):
- Green Party – Green Alternative (Zelena stranka – Zelena alternativa): Centrist, regional green party based in Pula/Istria.
- Green Alternative – Sustainable Development of Croatia (ORaH): Focuses on sustainable development; has been a member of European Greens in the past.
- Hrvatska Stranka Zelenih (Croatian Green Party) and others like Zelena lista (Green List, now defunct or merged).
These have historically struggled, often winning less than 1% nationally and remaining outside parliament. Croatia has seen multiple small green parties over the years (at one point around nine), but fragmentation has limited their impact. en.wikipedia.org
Political Context: Croatia’s political scene is dominated by the centre-right HDZ ( Croatian Democratic Union, currently in coalition with the right-wing nationalist Homeland Movement/DP ) and centre-left SDP. Green-left forces like Možemo! represent the main progressive opposition on environmental and social issues but remain smaller nationally compared to major parties.Možemo! has achieved the most tangible success so far, particularly in urban/Zagreb governance, by combining green policies with left-wing social initiatives. However, translating local wins into broader national power remains a challenge in a system where right-leaning parties have held strong influence.