Record participation in the Croatian legislative elections on April 17, but uncertain results: according to partial results, the outgoing center-right coalition won the greatest number of seats, without however being able to form a new government. The sovereignist and far-right nationalist parties would be in a position to decide who will form the future cabinet.
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Interest in the legislative elections was exceptional: 62% of voters turned out, a record for the Croatia. During the campaign, all political parties tried to create an atmosphere “for or against the historic right-wing party in power”, the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), explains our regional correspondent, Laurent Rouy.
Also, this election has blurred the waters between the traditional left-right divides. Both the left and the sovereignist and nationalist right say they share the same objective of change, even if it means forming a technical coalition to oust Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic’s HDZ from power.
Given the election results, this goal seems achievable. In the lead, the HDZ would win, according to the first results, 60 deputies out of 151, down by 6 seats, which is not enough to form the government; 76 seats are needed to govern alone. The various left-wing parties would together obtain 55 seats. The two far-right parties would obtain 14 and 11 seats respectively. They seem in a position to decide who will form the future government.
The beginning of a very difficult negotiation process »
“ We now have days, weeks, perhaps months of negotiations ahead of us. Negotiations that will bring about the change that will make Croatia a country free of corruption. And it starts tomorrow, with all those who said they would not go with the HDZ. It’s time to see if they were lies or if they really want change “, declared the leader of the SDP social democrats, Pedja Grbin, who came second in the vote.
Ivan Penava, the leader of the patriotic Homeland party, third in these legislative elections, claims a position of “ Croatia’s third political force » and announces: “ We will talk to anyone who calls us. » According to political analyst Tihomir Cipek, interviewed on the Nova TV television channel, “ it could be played out in a seat ” And ” it will be a very difficult negotiation process ” Insofar as ” it will be very difficult to find a common language “.
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