This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/7111624.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Croatia votes for new parliament | Croatia votes for new parliament |
| (28 minutes later) | |
| 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. | 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. |
| The first results show the two main parties are neck and neck. | The first results show the two main parties are neck and neck. |
| The governing Croatian Democratic Union has a slight lead over the opposition Social Democrats, but so far only a third of the votes have been counted. | |
| The main campaign issues were corruption, the economy, and reforms needed to take Croatia into the EU. | 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. | Both parties are keen to complete the process of joining the EU, which accepted Croatia as a candidate a year ago. |
| Different constituencies | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | "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. | 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 ahead of the poll had given 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 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. |