ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at the history, regulation and research on electoral debates in Croatia. Televised debates represent an important feature of the country’s Americanised electoral market. They have been mainly promoted by television outlets that see them as an appealing media product tailored first and foremost to attract audiences. Although they were initially linked to presidential elections, since 2016 electoral debates represent an important feature of parliamentary and European elections as well. The chapter first addresses the history of electoral debates in Croatia. It then examines legal conundrums related to the regulation of debates. It argues that unclear regulation is primarily a consequence of ignorance on the part of regulatory institutions and that a hazy legal framework often encourages broadcasters to give up organising debates or even to cancel them. Finally, the chapter looks at scholarly research related to electoral debates and the evidence of the effects of debates on voters’ perceptions and voting preferences. It argues that media coverage of the debates is usually exhaustive, that it enhances the visibility of the candidates and possibly increases voters’ knowledge of the elections, candidates and their policies. Consequently, it may also affect their voting intentions.
