The latest exit poll indicates that Croatia’s ruling HDZ party is on track to win 58 seats in the 151-seat parliament, a decrease from their previous 66 seats. The opposition coalition led by the Social Democrats is projected to win 44 seats, with the right-wing Homeland Movement coming in third with 13 seats.
The parliamentary election saw a high voter turnout, with 50.6 percent by 4:30pm compared to 34.4 percent at the same time in the previous election. This increase in participation reflects the intense campaign between the incumbent prime minister and a populist president vying for leadership.
Despite the projected victory for HDZ, the lack of a majority could lead to political instability as parties attempt to form alliances with differing political views. The election highlighted issues such as corruption, inflation, and irregular migration, which have impacted the nation in recent years.
The heated competition between Prime Minister Plenkovic and President Milanovic has further divided the nation, with Milanovic urging voters to choose “anyone but the HDZ” and accusing Plenkovic of corruption. These accusations have marred HDZ’s reputation, which had previously been a dominant force in Croatian politics.
As the results unfold, Croatia’s political landscape is likely to see significant changes, with implications for both domestic and international affairs.