Croatia: Prime-Minister’s pro-European conservative party wins snap elections

The Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), led by Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, won the early parliamentary elections but lost several seats without gaining a majority. HRT reports the vote’s outcome, with almost all the votes counted.

The government’s HDZ won 61 seats in the 151-seat parliament. In the previous 2020 elections, the party, which has recently faced corruption allegations, won 66 seats. 

• HDZ-led coalition (Andrej Plenković) – 34.44% – 61 seats (−5 seats vs previus election)
• Rivers of Justice (Zoran Milanović) – 25.41% – 42 seats (+1)
• DP-led coalition (Ivan Penava) – 9.57% – 14 seats (−2)
• Možemo! Sandra Benčić – 9.06% – 10 seats (+3)
• Most–Sovereignists (Nikola Grmoja) – 8.02% – 11 seats (+3)
• Our Croatia Davorko Vidović – 3.40% – 4 (new)
• Focus–Republic Damir Vanđelić – 2.25% – 1 (0)

Minority lists

• SDSS – 3
• DZMH – 1
• Kali Sara – 1
• Bošnjaci zajedno! – 1
• Independents – 2

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković supports Ukraine in its defensive war against Russia, while his opponent, President Zoran Milanović, has pro-Russian views.

The opposition Social Democratic Party, under the unofficial leadership of pro-Russian President Zoran Milanovic, led a coalition that secured second place with 42 seats. Party leader Peđa Grbin acknowledged that the results were not what his party wanted but said they “showed that… people want change.”

The right-wing populists from the Fatherland Movement, together with their partners, came in third with 14 seats. Analysts believe that this result could make it the main party in the formation of a new government.

The conservatives from the Bridge of Independent Lists party will have 11 seats, and the left-wing green movement Možemo! (We can!) will have 10 seats.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic and his HDZ party, which has ruled Croatia continuously since 1991, saw the vote as a test of their popularity.

The election followed a fierce campaign between Plenković and Milanović. Milanović campaigned throughout Croatia, despite a Constitutional Court ruling that he could only run for office if he first resigned from the presidency.

Plenković has repeatedly accused Milanović of spreading pro-Russian views in times of Russia’s war because of his criticism of the EU’s support for Ukraine and the president’s opposition to training Ukrainian soldiers in Croatia.

Milanovic is known for his aggressive rhetoric and foul language against HDZ opponents, EU officials, and his critics.

The early elections in Croatia are the result of large-scale protests that swept across the country earlier this year over corruption allegations against the ruling HDZ party.