Croatia’s ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) has emerged as the dominant force in the country’s second round of local elections, securing a series of key mayoral and regional victories, according to results reported by local media Monday.
Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, leader of the conservative HDZ, hailed the outcome as “a convincing victory”, stating it reflects public trust in his party’s leadership at both the national and local levels.
Major City Results
In the capital Zagreb, incumbent Mayor Tomislav Tomašević secured reelection with 57.5% of the vote, defeating independent challenger Marija Selak Raspudić. Tomašević, known for his progressive urban reforms, promised supporters to “continue fighting relentlessly for Zagreb.”
In Split, Croatia’s second-largest city, HDZ candidate Tomislav Šuta unseated sitting mayor Ivica Puljak with 53% of the vote. Šuta vowed to be “the mayor for all citizens of Split,” marking a strategic gain for HDZ in the Dalmatian region.
Historic and Notable Wins
In Rijeka, a significant milestone was reached as Iva Rinčić, an independent, was elected as the city’s first female mayor with a sweeping 65% of the vote. Calling it “a big step forward for Rijeka,” Rinčić’s victory represents a shift in the traditionally left-leaning port city.
In the eastern city of Vukovar, Marijan Pavliček of the nationalist Croatian Sovereignists defeated HDZ-backed candidate Domagoj Bilić, in one of the night’s few upsets for the ruling party.
Meanwhile, in Pula, former Social Democratic Party (SDP) leader Peđa Grbin returned to political prominence, defeating independent incumbent Filip Zoričić in a closely watched race.
Regional and County-Level Success
At the regional level, HDZ won 12 county prefect positions, including in:
In Varaždin County, one of the tightest contests of the night, HDZ’s Anđelko Stričak narrowly defeated SDP’s Bruno Ister by just 96 votes.
HDZ also notched victories in other prominent cities such as Šibenik, Dubrovnik, Zadar, and Karlovac, solidifying its presence across both urban and coastal strongholds.
Political Implications
The results reaffirm HDZ’s entrenched position in Croatian politics ahead of upcoming national and European parliamentary elections. Prime Minister Plenković framed the outcome as a mandate to continue his party’s governance agenda.
The elections also showcased a growing trend of independent and non-traditional candidates gaining traction in urban centers, signaling a shift in voter expectations on local governance, even as HDZ maintains its nationwide advantage.
Doctors working on the front lines of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo say attacks on treatment centres and fleeing patients are...
Russia has warned foreign nationals to leave Kyiv, saying it has launched a new wave of strikes targeting Ukraine’s defence industry and military co...
The UK is experiencing potentially record-breaking temperatures after forecasters confirmed some areas reached highs close to 34°C on Monday....
The World Health Organization warned on Monday that the fast-moving Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda was outpacing re...
China has launched three taikonauts to its Tiangong space station, including one crew member set to spend a full year in orbit in one of the longest p...
Doctors working on the front lines of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo say attacks on treatment centres and fleeing patients are hampering efforts to contain the virus.
Russia has warned foreign nationals to leave Kyiv, saying it has launched a new wave of strikes targeting Ukraine’s defence industry and military command infrastructure.
The UK is experiencing potentially record-breaking temperatures after forecasters confirmed some areas reached highs close to 34°C on Monday.
The World Health Organization warned on Monday that the fast-moving Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda was outpacing response efforts, with 220 suspected deaths reported so far.
The inaugural Enhanced Games began in Las Vegas on Sunday (24 May), launching one of the most controversial experiments in modern sport, in which athletes openly compete using performance-enhancing drugs banned under traditional anti-doping rules.
A peace agreement between Washington and Tehran is yet to materialise, with U.S. President Donald Trump saying that negotiations are incomplete and an Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman saying that a deal isn't imminent.
A "largely negotiated" memorandum of understanding on an Iran peace deal would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday, though the Iranian Fars news agency disputed that claim.
The World Health Organization warned on Monday that the fast-moving Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda was outpacing response efforts, with 220 suspected deaths reported so far.
Police fired tear gas and clashed with protesters in central Belgrade on Saturday, as tens of thousands gathered to demand early elections and an end to the more than decade-long rule of Serbia's President Aleksandar Vučić.
Doctors working on the front lines of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo say attacks on treatment centres and fleeing patients are hampering efforts to contain the virus.
Russia has warned foreign nationals to leave Kyiv, saying it has launched a new wave of strikes targeting Ukraine’s defence industry and military command infrastructure.
The World Health Organization warned on Monday that the fast-moving Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda was outpacing response efforts, with 220 suspected deaths reported so far.
China has launched three taikonauts to its Tiangong space station, including one crew member set to spend a full year in orbit in one of the longest planned space missions ever attempted.
Chinese President Xi Jinping praised the “unbreakable friendship” between China and Pakistan as he met Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Beijing on Monday, a day after companies from both countries signed cooperation agreements worth $1.22 billion.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment