Conservatives head for victory as migrants battle dominates Croatia election

A Conservative alliance which wants a clampdown on migration appeared to be heading for victory in Croatia’s first parliamentary election since joining the European Union two years ago. The opposition HDZ-led Patriotic Coalition is expected to win by a margin of about five parliamentary seats, an outcome likely to entail lengthy coalition talks with smaller parties. The coalition favours a tougher stance than the ruling Social Democrats on the migrant issue, seeking stricter border controls to manage the flood of migrants from the world’s trouble spots crossing Croatia to reach Europe.

I am going to vote for Croatia’s identity, we want to have our own identity and not listen to whatever Brussels tells us to do.

One 66-year-old voter

The first preliminary but official results will be released at 10 pm on Sunday. The state election commission said turnout could be higher than the 61.72% in 2011. But the election has been dominated by the issue of migration, with the HDZ, accusing the centre-left government of prime minister Zoran Milanovic of being soft and ineffectual in handling the issue. "I feel sorry for those people (migrants), but the migrant issue will not determine my vote,“ one voter, Marija, 71, said. "I will vote for economic prosperity, a better life for the young and for the old.”

I am very optimistic, I believe we will win

HDZ leader Tomislav Karamarko

Politics croatia election