ZAGREB, Jan 24 (Hina) - The presidential elections in Croatia started at 7AM Monday. In the county and abroad, 7,038 polling stations, at which a total of about 4.2 million Croatian citizens can cast their ballots, opened. The
presidential candidates are; Drazen Budisa of the coalition the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS)/ the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Ante Djapic of the Croatian Party of Rights (HSP), Mate Granic of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), independent candidate Ante Ledic, Tomislav Mercep of the Croatian Populace Party (HPS), Stjepan Mesic of the Croatian People's Party (HNS), Ante Prkacin of the New Croatia party (NH), and independent candidate Zvonimir Separovic. A candidate who receives the majority of the vote of all voters who cast their ballots will be elected president. In case none of the candidates gain more than 50 percent of the vote in the first round, Croatian citizens will cast their ballots ag
ZAGREB, Jan 24 (Hina) - The presidential elections in Croatia
started at 7AM Monday.
In the county and abroad, 7,038 polling stations, at which a total
of about 4.2 million Croatian citizens can cast their ballots,
opened.
The presidential candidates are; Drazen Budisa of the coalition the
Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS)/ the Social Democratic Party
(SDP), Ante Djapic of the Croatian Party of Rights (HSP), Mate
Granic of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), independent
candidate Ante Ledic, Tomislav Mercep of the Croatian Populace
Party (HPS), Stjepan Mesic of the Croatian People's Party (HNS),
Ante Prkacin of the New Croatia party (NH), and independent
candidate Zvonimir Separovic.
A candidate who receives the majority of the vote of all voters who
cast their ballots will be elected president. In case none of the
candidates gain more than 50 percent of the vote in the first round,
Croatian citizens will cast their ballots again in two weeks. In the
second round of elections, which would be held on February 7, voters
would vote for one of the two candidates who won the majority of the
vote in the first round of the elections.
First unofficial results of the elections will be announced by the
National Electoral Commission shortly after midnight.
About 3.8 million citizens in Croatia are eligible voters, and they
can cast their ballots at about 6,900 polls, There are 6,477 regular
polling stations, 102 mixed polls, namely for members of armed
forces, prisoners, and mariners, 300 polls for Croatian displaced
persons, while persons without permanent residence in Croatia can
cast their ballots at 18 polls.
A total of 360,324 Croatian citizens who do not have permanent
residence in Croatia have the right to cast their ballots at 141
polling stations in 48 countries. Twenty-four polls were opened in
Bosnia-Herzegovina, 20 in Australia and 18 in Germany.
Polling stations abroad opened at 7AM and will remain open until
19.00 hours local time Monday.
About 43,000 members of electoral committees and electoral
commissions are participating in the implementation of the
presidential elections. The implementation of the elections is
monitored by about 5,000 observers of seven domestic non-
government organisations. There are about 400 foreign observers,
of which the majority are members the Organisation for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
Monday's elections are the third elections for the president of the
state and are held a month and a half after the death of the first
Croatian President Franjo Tudjman. President Tudjman was elected
twice; in August 1992 and June 1997.
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