There are 47 candidates for the oversight board of the security agency, including well-known names.

In Croatia, an unprecedented number of candidates have applied for seven positions on the Council overseeing security agencies—a body tasked with ensuring transparency and accountability within the country's intelligence and security services. The call for nominations was issued in April by the Parliamentary Committee for Internal Affairs and National Security, which has now received a total of 47 applications. This figure far exceeds expectations and highlights the high level of interest among professionals and public figures who wish to play a role in monitoring the operations of these sensitive institutions.

The council consists of a president and six members, all of whom must be Croatian citizens with high professional qualifications. At least one member must be a lawyer, a political scientist, and an electrical engineering expert. Additionally, the council members cannot belong to the executive leadership of political parties nor can they participate in party activities or engage in political actions while serving on the council. Each candidate undergoes a thorough security check before being eligible for appointment. Those deemed suitable receive a certificate confirming their clearance.

Among the applicants, several notable names stand out. Zdravka Čufar Šarić, who previously served as the chairperson of the council for two terms, is once again seeking reappointment. She is joined by the current members of the council—Gordan Akrap, Eduard Briški, Kristijan Kotarski, Aleksandar Maršavelski, Mihael Puljić, and Mile Štefanac—who have also put themselves forward for new four-year mandates. These individuals bring extensive experience in oversight roles and are well-versed in the complexities of national security matters.

Other prominent candidates include Davorin Ivanjek, a lawyer who has previously served on the Conflict of Interest Resolution Panel, and Anton Filić, a political scientist who led the Croatian Journalists' Union for two terms. Vjekoslav Krsnik, a journalist and former editor-in-chief of HINA in the early 1990s, is also running for a seat. Zdravko Vladanović, a retired officer of the Croatian Army and president of the Association of Property Representatives of Residential Buildings in Zagreb, has been nominated by his organization.

Marijana Mikulić, a representative from the Croatian Parliament and head of the parliamentary Service for Legal Matters and Human Potential, is another notable applicant. Her background in legal affairs and her position within the legislative branch make her a strong contender for a seat on the council.

A wide range of other individuals have expressed interest in joining the council, including Nevena Aljinović, Tomislav Benić, Nikola Blažić, Ivana Blizanac Marjanović, Željka Burić, Josip Crnjac, Mihaela Čeperić, Josip Čerina, Matija Čmelješević, Adli El Dalgamouni, Zvjezdana Erbežnik, Andrijana Franjčić, Tomislav Grgić, Dubravka Hrgarek, Pavle Hrvačić, Srećko Ilić, Petar Kalajžić, Antonio Katavić, Luka Knez, Mario Lamešić, Zoran Lovig, Roberto Lujuć, Tonči Majica, Zvonko Markić, Nikola Mijatović, Damir Mikulić, Zdravko Mikulić, Hrvoje Pajtak, Marko Paradžik, Darko Pavlović, Anita Piskulić Serdarević, Andreja Rudančić, Tomislav Seser, Anamarija Stanić, Goran Tortić, and Joško Vuković. Each of these individuals brings a unique set of skills and experiences that could contribute to the council’s mission of ensuring compliance with constitutional rights and freedoms.

The council plays a crucial role in monitoring the legality of the operations of security services, particularly in relation to measures involving covert data collection that may infringe upon fundamental human rights and freedoms. It compiles information about such activities and reports them to the Council for National Security, the President of the Croatian Parliament, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for National Security, and the heads of the relevant security and intelligence agencies. In addition, the council provides information on how citizens, state bodies, and legal entities can submit complaints regarding alleged unlawful practices or irregularities in the work of these agencies, especially when constitutional rights are violated.

With so many qualified candidates vying for just seven positions, the selection process will likely be highly competitive. The Croatian Parliament will ultimately decide who will be appointed to the council, taking into account each candidate’s qualifications, experience, and suitability for the role. Given the importance of this body in safeguarding democratic principles and ensuring the proper functioning of security services, the final appointments will be scrutinized closely by both the public and the political establishment.