Croat Conservatives Claim Election Victory, Vow to Form Cabinet
- HDZ beats Social Democrats with 61 of parliament’s 151 seats
- Social Democrats reject grand coalition, giving Bridge an edge
Zoran Milanovic casts his vote at a polling station during the parliamentary election in Zagreb, Croatia, on Sept. 11, 2016.
Source: Anadolu Agency via Getty ImagesThe conservative Croatian Democratic Union moved toward forming a government after a surprise election victory, potentially opening the way to a stable cabinet after political deadlock stalled efforts to overhaul the economy in the European Union’s youngest member.
The Democratic Union, known as HDZ, won 61 of parliament’s 151 seats in the snap general ballot, Nova TV said Monday, citing calculations made from the Electoral Commission’s percentage count. Former Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic’s Social Democrats, who led opinion polls before the ballot, ruled out joining a government after winning 54 seats. The Bridge party, whose previous coalition with HDZ collapsed in June, got 13.