Croatia: Four million voters vote in national poll

About four million Croatian voters were expected to vote in a national election on Sunday to elect a new parliament.

Analysts on Friday predicted the race between the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) and the opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP) would be close.

According to the latest surveys, the SDP had a slight lead and was expected to win 35.5 per cent of the vote - or 58 seats in the 140-seat parliament.

The HDZ was trailing with 32.5 per cent which would give it 56 seats, while the rest was likely to be distributed among small parties and minorities.

But analysts said that the HDZ could have an edge among a large number of undecided voters, leaving the final outcome in doubt.

According to election laws, Croats living abroad also have the right to vote and might decide the fate of up to eight deputies, depending on the turnout.

Eight seats in the parliament are reserved for minorities so the total number of deputies, which is not fixed, may top 150.

The HDZ, was founded by former president Franjo Tudjman, who led Croatia to independence from the former Yugoslavia in 1991. It has traditionally won the strongest backing among voters abroad, particularly in neighboring Bosnia-Herzegovina.

The SDP, which is largely composed of reformed communists, is attracting left-leaning voters and was expected to capitalise on general discontent about the economic situation in the country.

Former SDP leader Ivica Racan died of cancer in April this year, and his successor Zoran Milanovic has ran a campaign similar to that of HDZ leader and current prime minister Ivo Sanader.

The campaign was dominated by economic and social issues and on Croatia’s drive towards joining the European Union and NATO. Croatia has signed the Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU and is hoping to join NATO at Bucharest summit next year.

Many analysts believe that no party will be able to form a government on its own, and analysts have speculated that a grand coalition between HDZ and SDP might ultimately be a solution for forming new government.