Why are some seats in the Croatian Sabor reserved for national minorities?

In the Republic of Croatia, the reservation of seats in the Sabor (parliament) for national minorities is rooted in the country's constitutional commitment to equality. The 1990 constitution guarantees the equality of nationalities alongside fundamental civil rights, such as freedom of speech and religion.1

To uphold these principles, the electoral system allocates a small percentage of parliamentary seats specifically to representatives of national minorities, ensuring their voices are included in the legislative process. This practice aligns with the broader constitutional protections that guarantee cultural autonomy and the right of minorities to use their own language and script.1