Media blackout ahead of the elections for the European Parliament in Croatia started at midnight Friday and runs through and including the election day, Sunday April 14, until 1900 hours.

Election silence is a ban on political campaigning prior to the election and all participants - voters, candidates, parties, media and bodies implementing the election - are prohibited from announcing forecasts of the results, photographs, statements or participate in any other form of campaigning.

Croatian citizens will for the first time to elect their 12 representatives in the European Parliament, the only institutions whose members are elected directly and together with the Council of Minister is is the legislative authority of the European Union which Croatia is scheduled to join on 1 July.

The State Electoral Commission has received 28 valid slates - 27 party slates and one of a group of voters. Of the party slates, 19 are independent and 8 are coalition slates.

A total of 3,740,951 people are eligible to vote at 6,614 polling stations in Croatia and 82 polling stations abroad. Voting abroad began already on Saturday.