Croatia’s ruling conservatives overwhelmingly won the country’s parliamentary elections.
With more than 90% of the vote counted on Sunday night, the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), won 66 seats in the 151-seat parliament. HDZ is likely to form a coalition government with smaller right-wing parties.
An alliance led by the main opposition party, the liberal Social Democratic Party, or SDP, came in second with 41 seats. The right-leaning Homeland Movement came third with at least 16 seats followed by the conservative Bridge party with 8 seats and leftist We Can with 6 seats.
HDZ leader and acting prime minister Andrej Plenkovic praised the great result: “Such a result for the HDZ, which is our victory, is not only great, but an obligation”, he said.
The country recorded a low turnout of voters, around 46%, amid the coronavirus outbreak, the state election commission said. It has so far reported 3,000 infections and 110 deaths, but has seen a rise in cases in recent weeks. Voters were told to wear masks and bring their own pen.
