1 month ago
Croatia is voting Wednesday successful a parliamentary election aft a run that centered connected a bitter rivalry betwixt nan president and premier curate of nan country.
The ballot pits nan ruling blimpish Croatian Democratic Union, aliases HDZ, led by Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, against an confederation of centrist and left-wing parties informally led by populist President Zoran Milanovic and his Social Democratic Party, aliases SDP.
The predetermination is being held arsenic Croatia, a European Union and NATO member, struggles pinch nan highest ostentation complaint successful nan eurozone, a labour shortage, forbidden migration and reports of wide corruption.
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At liking successful nan title for Croatia’s 151-seat parliament isn't conscionable nan Adriatic Sea country's early home policies, but besides nan EU’s unity arsenic it grapples pinch nan instability from Russia’s full-scale penetration of Ukraine.
If nan HDZ stays successful power, nan state would proceed connected a pro-Western people successful supporting Ukraine successful its conflict against Russia. Success for SDP could put it connected way for triumph successful nan European Parliament predetermination successful June and nan statesmanlike predetermination successful December. It would shingle nan HDZ’s agelong power of authorities and perchance unfastened abstraction for stronger pro-Russia power successful nan country, akin to Hungary and Slovakia.
Polls adjacent Wednesday evening and charismatic results are expected Thursday.
Prime Minister incumbent Andrej Plenkovic speaks to nan media aft casting his ballot astatine a polling position successful Zagreb, Croatia, connected April 17, 2024. Croatia is voting successful a parliamentary predetermination aft a run that centered connected a bitter rivalry betwixt Croatia's president and premier minister. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Most pre-election polls predicted a HDZ victory, but without capable seats to norm alone. The left-wing guidance whitethorn use from discontent pinch nan country’s precocious ostentation and nan wide economical malaise successful astir EU personnel states. Smaller parties connected nan correct and nan near could beryllium cardinal to some nan HDZ and SDP successful their quest for power.
The HDZ has mostly held agency since Croatia gained independency from nan erstwhile Yugoslavia successful 1991. The Balkan federation became nan newest personnel of the European Union successful 2013, and joined Europe’s passport-free recreation area and nan eurozone past year.
The president holds a mostly ceremonial domiciled successful Croatia, while nan premier curate exerts astir of nan governmental power. The predetermination has played retired arsenic nan last section successful nan long-running rivalry betwixt Plenkovic and Milanovic.
After Milanovic scheduled nan predetermination and announced his astonishment bid for premier minister, he began campaigning connected behalf of nan SDP. But Croatia’s law tribunal judges stepped in, saying nan move was unconstitutional.
The judges said that nan president can’t tally for premier minister, return portion successful nan parliamentary predetermination aliases run successful favour of immoderate party, unless he first resigns.
Milanovic refused, openly ignoring nan apical tribunal and continuing to run successful favour of nan left-wing alliance.
"I dream that nan citizens will ballot for a Croatia that respects nan constitution and nan law order, for a Croatia that belongs to nan Western and transatlantic antiauthoritarian circle," Plenkovic said aft he formed his ballot, appearing to reference Milanovic and his alleged breach of nan constitution by actively taking portion successful nan predetermination process.
Milanovic said that pinch his statement, Plenkovic breached electoral soundlessness connected nan ballot day.
"You person a premier curate who moreover coming did not defy breaking that symbolic predetermination silence, going chaotic and talking delirium astir violating nan constitution, respecting nan law," nan president said.
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Milanovic besides accused Plenkovic and nan HDZ of rampant corruption and "massive theft" of authorities funds, referring to past and coming scandals, immoderate of which had ended up successful nan courts.
Plenkovic, who has led nan authorities since 2016, many times denied nan accusations, saying Milanovic arsenic nan premier curate would displacement nan state distant from nan EU and closer to Russia.
Milanovic has often voiced a pro-Russia stance during nan warfare successful Ukraine, opposing nan training of Ukrainian soldiers successful Croatia arsenic good arsenic sending weapons to Ukraine because, successful his view, it only prolongs nan war. He besides criticized nan EU’s policies complete Ukraine.
