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Josipovic elected Croatia leader Josipovic elected Croatia leader
(29 minutes later)
The opposition Social Democrat, Ivo Josipovic, has won Croatia's presidential election by a wide margin.The opposition Social Democrat, Ivo Josipovic, has won Croatia's presidential election by a wide margin.
Mr Josipovic won 60.3% of the vote in the second round run-off, beating Zagreb mayor Milan Bandic, according to the state electoral commission. Mr Josipovic won 60.3% of the vote in the second round run-off, beating the mayor of Zagreb, Milan Bandic.
He has pledged to help the government's efforts to tackle corruption and complete EU membership talks this year. Correspondents say the result was expected, but the margin of victory even larger than polls had predicted.
Croatia's president has little power to direct policy, so the campaign was focused on personality, and not ideas. Mr Josipovic has pledged to lead an "uncompromising fight against corruption" and to help the government complete EU membership talks this year.
The BBC Balkans correspondent Mark Lowen says the difference between the two men is stark. The 52-year-old law professor and classical music composer succeeds Stipe Mesic, who will step down in February after 10 years as president.
'More just Croatia'
Addressing his supporters in Zagreb on Sunday evening after the official results were announced, Mr Josipovic said his victory was for "all honest people regardless of their voting preferences".
I deeply believe that all of us want to live in a country in which work is rewarded and crime punished, in a country of social security and justice Ivo Josipovic
"This is a victory which we can all celebrate because it is my deep belief that all of us want a better and more just Croatia," he said.
"I deeply believe that all of us want to live in a country in which work is rewarded and crime punished, in a country of social security and justice."
His opponent, Mr Bandic, was tarnished by corruption allegations during the campaign.
The BBC Balkans correspondent, Mark Lowen, says that as president, Mr Josipovic will have very little say in policy making, but will hope to take the country into the EU by 2012, becoming the bloc's 28th member.
Zagreb mayor Milan Bandic has been hit by corruption allegationsZagreb mayor Milan Bandic has been hit by corruption allegations
Left-wing Mr Josipovic is a mild-mannered classical music composer and doctor of law, credited for his untarnished background but criticised for lacking charisma. He has been criticised for lacking charisma, but is likely to co-operate both with Brussels and the Croatian government, led by Jadranka Kosor, which has been tackle corruption if its EU hopes are to be fulfilled, our correspondent says.
Mr Bandic, on the right, is a long-distance runner who says he is close to the people, but has been hit by corruption allegations. Croatians have been largely unenthused by this election, reflected by the low turnout of 50.3%, slightly up on the first round, he adds.
Corruption has been the dominant theme in the campaign, with Croatia determined to clean up its image in order to gain EU membership by 2012. Frustrated with widespread corruption, they have also been hard hit by the global financial crisis, with Croatia's economy likely to show barely any growth this year. Unemployment remains at around 16%.
Disenchantment Our correspondent says the new president will be hoping to restore popular faith in politics, as well as steer Croatia towards calmer and cleaner waters.
Also of concern to Croatian voters is the impact of the recession.
Voters in the Croatian election
The country's economy is expected to shrink by almost 6% in 2009 and show barely any growth this year. Unemployment stands stubbornly high at around 16%.
Our correspondent says there is a general mood of public disenchantment with politics in Croatia, leading to the lowest ever turnout in the first round of this presidential election at just 44%.
Both candidates saw an increasingly aggressive end to their campaigns and have appealed to voters both in Croatia and the over 250,000 Croats in Bosnia to cast their ballot, he adds.