"The votes have been counted and there's nothing else to do but congratulate those who have won more, who have won this election, the HDZ-HSP AS-BUZ coalition," Milanovic said after hearing the incomplete results released by the State Election Commission.
He said elections were always uncertain but that he had expected a better result.
The slate of the coalition led by the strongest opposition party -- the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) -- which also includes candidates of the Croatian Party of Rights Dr. Ante Starcevic (HSP AS) and the BUZ pensioners' party, won 32.93% of the vote according to returns form 98.01% of polling stations. The coalition consisting of the SDP, the Croatian People's Party (HNS) and the Croatian Pensioners' Party (HSU) followed with 31.95%.