Croatia is preparing to experience a period of fierce discussions and probably new tensions, following legislative elections which did not show any clear trend on Wednesday April 17.
According to partial results based on the counting of more than 80% of the ballots, the HDZ of outgoing Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic would be in the lead with 61 seats won, five fewer than in 2020. Behind the conservatives, the Social Democrats (SDP) of Croatian President Zoran Milanovic come in second with 42 seats. Far, in both cases, from the 76 seats necessary to govern alone, which suggests difficult negotiations to form a majority.
Andrej Plenkovic had not yet taken the floor to comment on the results as of midnight. “These are not the results we were hoping for,” admitted the leader of the Social Democrats, Pedja Grbin. “But we now have days, weeks, maybe months of negotiations ahead of us. Negotiations that will bring the change that will make Croatia a country free of corruption,” he said. “And it starts tomorrow, with all those who said they would not go [in coalition] with the HDZ. It’s time to see if they were lies or if they really want change.”
Zoran Milanovic, surprise candidate for prime minister
Behind the two major Croatian parties, the nationalist right of the patriotic Homeland movement comes in third position with thirteen seats. Next come the ultra-conservatives of Most, who could win eleven. The left-wing environmentalist party Mozemo should have ten. All options therefore seem open for coalitions.
“It seems clear that we are the third political force in Croatia, and we will talk to anyone who calls us,” Homeland leader Ivan Penava said in the evening, adding “all sides are calling us.”
After a tense campaign in the form of a boxing match between the Prime Minister and the President, long-time enemies of Croatian political life, the time has come to negotiate.
“I will discuss with everyone who wants a Croatia where people do not steal, where there is no looting, where people are not cheated, where people who do not respect the traffic rules − not to mention of the penal code − are not appointed to head the national prosecutor's office,” declared Zoran Milanovic, surprise candidate for the post of prime minister, while voting.
Although the judges considered his candidacy unconstitutional as long as he did not resign from the presidency, Zoran Milanovic, a social democrat with increasingly populist overtones, campaigned like a front-runner, and as if nothing had happened. he was, hitting hard on his rival, the outgoing Prime Minister, Andrej Plenkovic, at the cost of numerous outbursts and insults. “When you're dealing with thieves and savages taking advantage of their power, you have to react like that, you have to flex your muscles,” he explained.
Resignations of several ministers
Corruption has long been the Achilles heel of the HDZ, which has most often ruled Croatia since its independence in 1991. Several ministers have had to resign in recent years, marring political life with numerous scandals. This did not stop Croatians from voting in numbers − more than 60% of voters turned out, compared to 46.9% in the 2020 elections.
A sworn enemy of the president for years, the prime minister in office since 2016 campaigned promising stability and seriousness to the 3.8 million inhabitants. While recalling that it was under his mandate that the country entered the euro zone and the Schengen area.
“A lot has been achieved in recent years, but there are always new duties, new challenges, new problems,” he said after voting in the capital, Zagreb. “In a geopolitical context that has changed significantly, in the face of security threats, it is important that Croatia is run seriously, responsibly, reliably and that all our citizens are safe,” added Mr. Plenkovic.
A member of NATO since 2009 and of the European Union (EU) since 2013, Croatia remains one of the poorest countries in the EU, with an average monthly salary of 1,240 euros.
