TUDJMAN RE-ELECTED AS CROATIAN PRESIDENT- OFFICIAL RESULTS

ZAGREB, 24 June (Hina) - The Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) presidential candidate Franjo Tudjman won 61.41 percent of votes (1,337,990 ballots) at 15 June Croatia presidential election, the Social Democrat Party (SDP) presidential candidate, Zdravko Tomac, garnered 21.03 percent (or 458,172 ballots), and the presidential candidate of the nine opposition parties, Social Liberal Vlado Gotovac won 17.56 percent (or 382,630 ballots), according to official results of the election released by the state Electoral Commission on Tuesday. The official results need be confirmed by the Constitutional Court and then Franjo Tudjman will be sworn. Out of a total of 4,061,479 registered voters, 2,218,448 voters went to the polls. There were 39,656 invalid ballots. Out of a total of 377,705 registered Croatian voters abroad, 88,728 persons went to the polls in foreign countries. In Bosnia-Herzegovina 47,750 voters, out of 140,742 registered ones, cast ballots, whereas in Germany 22,640 voters out of 22,644 registered went to the polls. Tudjman won 81,107 ballots of voters abroad, whereas 4,463 Croatian citizens in foreign countries voted for Gotovac and 2,676 of them voted for Tomac. According to returns from polling stations in Croatian counties, towns and municipalities, Tudjman won the election in 20 counties out of 21. More than 70 percent of voters in six counties each voted for Tudjman and more than 60 percent of voters in nine counties cast their ballots for him. Lika-Senj County registered 82.03 percent of votes for the incumbent President. Tudjman won the election in 111 out of 122 towns, and collected more than 80 percent of votes in 12 towns, more than 70 percent in 20 towns, over 60 percent in 40 towns and more than 50 percent of votes in 20 towns. Gotovac won the election in Istrian County, whereas Tomac was in the second place in 19 counties. (hina) jn mš 241732 MET jun 97