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Croatia votes for new parliament Croatia votes for new parliament
(about 17 hours later)
Croatia has begun voting for a new parliament which is expected to lead the country into the European Union. People in Croatia have voted in a tightly contested election for a new parliament, which is expected to lead the country into the European Union.
More than four million people can vote, with polls predicting a tight race between ruling conservatives and opposition Social Democrats. The first results show the two main parties are neck and neck.
Voters in more than 50 countries are taking part as a significant proportion of the electorate - 400,000 people - lives abroad. The governing Croatian Democratic Union has a slight lead over the opposition Social Democrats, but so far only 10% of the votes have been counted.
The main campaign issues were corruption, the economy, and reforms needed to take Croatia into the EU.
Both parties are keen to complete the process of joining the EU, which accepted Croatia as a candidate a year ago.
Different constituencies
According to preliminary results released by the state-run Electoral Commission, the two rivals appeared short of the 77 seats required for a majority.
This would mean a new government could only be formed after post-election coalition talks.
Speaking on national television, Croatian President Stipe Mesic predicted the count would be very close.
"We will know later tonight or tomorrow who will have more potential to form a coalition," he said.
Voters in more than 50 countries took part, as a significant proportion of the electorate - 400,000 people - lives abroad.
This expatriate vote is expected to play a decisive role in the outcome.This expatriate vote is expected to play a decisive role in the outcome.
Opinion polls give a slight lead to the Social Democrats whose new leader, Zoran Milanovic, appeals to young, urban voters. Opinion polls ahead of the poll had given a slight lead to the Social Democrats - whose new leader, Zoran Milanovic, appeals to young, urban voters.
The ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) counts on the votes of older and more rural population and on the extra seats reserved for the Croatian diaspora. The Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) counts on the votes of older and more rural population and on the extra seats reserved for the Croatian diaspora.
Neither party is expected to win an outright majority, and a new government could only be formed after post-election coalition talks.
Ahead of the ballot a key point of contention has been the right to vote of Croatians living abroad, especially those in neighbouring Bosnia, where a third of a million people are eligible to take part in the Croatian election.