The ruling HDZ party emerged victorious in Croatia’s election, securing the most seats based on nearly complete official results. However, they now face challenging negotiations to obtain a majority in parliament and establish a governing coalition.
With results from over 90 percent of polling stations, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic’s Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) claimed 60 seats in the 151-member assembly, a slight decrease from the 66 seats they won in the previous 2020 election.
On the other hand, a center-left coalition, spearheaded by the Social Democrats (SDP), secured 42 seats, while the right-wing Homeland Movement was poised to secure 14 seats, placing them third.
Addressing his supporters in Zagreb shortly after midnight, Plenkovic expressed confidence in the HDZ’s victory for the third consecutive time and outlined plans to secure a parliamentary majority to form the government.
Seen as a crucial test of popularity for Plenkovic and the conservative HDZ party, Wednesday’s closely-contested election reflected Croatia’s political landscape since gaining independence from Yugoslavia in 1991.
Despite facing challenges such as voter fatigue, high inflation, and corruption scandals, the HDZ aimed to leverage its long-standing support for Croatia’s EU accession, euro introduction, and thriving tourism industry.
Voters wait near a polling station in Zagreb [Darko Bandic/AP Photo]
SDP leader Pedja Grbin expressed disappointment in the party’s performance, emphasizing the need for ongoing discussions to bring about positive change in Croatia.
With a voter turnout of 61.83 percent, significantly higher than the previous election in 2020, the State Election Commission reported a surge in civic engagement.
Coalition talks
The election outcome signals a period of political uncertainty as major parties navigate coalition talks with factions holding diverse political ideologies.
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