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Conservative Party in Croatia Leads in Early Election Results Conservative Party in Croatia Leads in Early Election Results
(about 3 hours later)
ZAGREB, Croatia — The conservative Croatian Democratic Union had a clear lead in preliminary results from snap parliamentary elections in Croatia on Sunday, suggesting the party was on course to lead a new government after a turbulent period for the country. ZAGREB, Croatia — The conservative Croatian Democratic Union was on track to win the most seats in parliamentary elections in Croatia on Sunday, but the country looked set for long negotiations among potential coalition partners after voters once again declined to return a clear governing majority.
The party, known as H.D.Z., was on a pace to win 62 seats in the 151-member Parliament after 15 percent of votes had been counted in the country’s second election in less than a year. The Social Democrats were 10 seats behind. With 60 percent of votes counted, the party, known as H.D.Z., had 61 seats, pushing the Social Democrats into second place with 54. But it was still short of a majority in the 151-seat Parliament, even with the support of the center-right Most party, or Bridge, whose 12 seats make it a likely kingmaker.
But H.D.Z. officials warned that the initial results, skewed toward rural districts that are its traditional strongholds, may change. In a sign of voter disillusionment, turnout plunged, and Zivi Zid, or Human Shield, a populist left alliance, surged from one seat to eight by promising to be tough on banks and demanding the prosecution of unnamed corrupt officials.
The center-right MOST party, which wants to end the two-party duopoly that has existed in Croatia for 20 years, was on a path to win 13 seats. The party, a likely kingmaker, has said any partner would have to promise to carry out its reformist ideas. The H.D.Z. seems best placed to form a government, but it could be difficult for any party to build a coalition with a clear mandate to carry out the painful public administration changes being urged on this country of 4.3 million.
The previous government, a coalition between H.D.Z. and MOST, collapsed after just five months amid disputes over public administration reforms and government appointments. “I am sure that we are the party that will have the privilege of forming a stable government for the next four years,” said Andrej Plenkovic, a European parliamentarian who was only recently made leader of the H.D.Z.
Votes for the three seats representing Croats abroad, who traditionally vote for the H.D.Z., had yet to be counted. The previous government, a coalition between the H.D.Z. and Most, collapsed after five months amid disputes over reforms and government appointments.
Croats voted in smaller numbers than in the last election and lent support to populist parties. One of them, the leftist Zivi Zid, or Human Shield, party, appeared to be in line for seven seats, up from one.
The new government will face a huge task in revitalizing one of the European Union’s weakest economies, which is dominated by state enterprises.The new government will face a huge task in revitalizing one of the European Union’s weakest economies, which is dominated by state enterprises.
The European Union wants Croatia, its newest member state, to reduce high public debt, cut the budget deficit and improve the business climate to spur economic growth. The European Union wants Croatia, its newest member state, to reduce high public debt, cut a budget deficit and improve the business climate to spur economic growth.
In recent months, the country’s politics have been dominated by a populist tone that has brought relations with neighboring Serbia to their lowest point since the end of the Balkan wars of the 1990s.In recent months, the country’s politics have been dominated by a populist tone that has brought relations with neighboring Serbia to their lowest point since the end of the Balkan wars of the 1990s.