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Croatia presidency vote goes to runoff after tight contest | |
(about 15 hours later) | |
The Croatian presidential election is heading for a runoff after Sunday's vote provided no outright winner. | |
The incumbent, Ivo Josipovic, won 38.5% of the vote, compared to 37% for Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, the election commission said. | |
Since neither candidate got more than 50%, a runoff will be held in January. | |
The president is a largely ceremonial role, but the election is seen as a key test for the main political parties. | |
Mr Josipovic, a law expert and classical composer, was nominated by the governing coalition. | |
His rival Ms Grabar-Kitarovic is a former foreign minister and assistant to the Nato secretary general. She is the candidate of the main opposition party. | |
Two other candidates finished far behind. | |
The election was held amid severe economic problems in Croatia. | |
The country became the newest member of the European Union, joining last year, but is entering its sixth year of recession. Unemployment is close to 20%. | |
The Croatian president has a say in foreign policy and is head of the army, but running the country is primarily left to the government. | |
Parliamentary elections are expected to be held towards the end of next year. |