ZAGREB, May 21 (Hina) - The Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) has managed to regain the voters' trust after the defeat at last year's parliamentary election, winning in 14 of 21 counties at Sunday's local polls, either independently or
in coalition with the Croatian Block. The Social Democratic Party (SDP) won, independently or in coalition, in two counties and the City of Zagreb, the first unofficial results indicate. The Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS) leads in the Bjelovar-Bilogora and Koprivnica-Krizevci counties, the Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS) in Istria County, and the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) in Medjimurje County. These parties will have to enter coalitions with others which crossed the electoral threshold to establish local authorities. It is to be expected the SDP will be in advantage as to the opposition's HDZ given the coalition ruling on the state level (SDP, HSLS, HSS, IDS, Libe
ZAGREB, May 21 (Hina) - The Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) has
managed to regain the voters' trust after the defeat at last year's
parliamentary election, winning in 14 of 21 counties at Sunday's
local polls, either independently or in coalition with the Croatian
Block.
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) won, independently or in
coalition, in two counties and the City of Zagreb, the first
unofficial results indicate.
The Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS) leads in the Bjelovar-Bilogora
and Koprivnica-Krizevci counties, the Istrian Democratic Assembly
(IDS) in Istria County, and the Croatian Social Liberal Party
(HSLS) in Medjimurje County.
These parties will have to enter coalitions with others which
crossed the electoral threshold to establish local authorities. It
is to be expected the SDP will be in advantage as to the opposition's
HDZ given the coalition ruling on the state level (SDP, HSLS, HSS,
IDS, Liberal Party-LS, Croatian People's Party-HNS).
The SDP, the strongest party on the national level, won in the
Varazdin and Primorje-Gorski Kotar counties, the City of Zagreb,
and leads in the cities of Split and Rijeka.
The HDZ leads in the eastern town of Osijek, which in the past decade
was ruled by Zlatko Kramaric of the LS.
The biggest surprise of last weekend's election is the success of
the HIP and the failure of the HSLS in the capital. The latter failed
to even pass the five-percent electoral threshold, as did the HSS
and the Democratic Centre (DC). The LS is reported to be unhappy
with the first results in the capital as well.
The recently established HIP, on the other hand, led by Miroslav
Tudjman, the son of Croatia's president, won about 7.5 percent of
the capital's vote, securing five seats in the city assembly.
The HNS also fared well in Zagreb, ranking third alongside the SDP
and the Croatian Block with about 18 percent of the vote.
As for other major centres, the HSLS won in Bjelovar and Varazdin
and the HDZ in Dubrovnik, whereas the IDS lost Pula to the coalition
comprising the Istrian Democratic Forum, the SDP and Loredana
Stok's Independent List.
Although the aforementioned results are unofficial, experience has
shown they are a reliable reflection of the final outcome.
Last Sunday's polls were characterised by a relatively poor
turnout, about 45 percent, some 20 percent less than in 1997, when
the last local elections were held.
About 3.8 million Croatians went to the polls to elect councillors
for 422 municipal and 123 town councils, and assemblies for 20
counties and the City of Zagreb.
More accurate data is expected in the course of the day.
(hina) ha