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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Croatia rivals in close poll race | |
| (about 8 hours 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. |
| Early results show the two main parties neck and neck, and both claim victory. | |
| The governing Croatian Democratic Union has a slight lead over the opposition Social Democrats, with around half of the votes still to be 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 main parties said they had triumphed in the election. | |
| "The Croatian Democratic Union's (HDZ's) victory is certain... Croatian voters have shown that they trust the HDZ and the policies we've been implementing in the last four years," said Prime Minister Ivo Sanader. | |
| His opponent, Social Democrat leader Zoran Milanovic, was also confident of victory. | |
| "We are immediately starting talks for forming the new government and I am sure we shall succeed," he said. | |
| Very close | |
| According to preliminary results released by the state-run Electoral Commission, the two rivals both 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. |
| Both parties are keen to complete the process of joining the EU, which accepted Croatia as a candidate a year ago. |