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.
Spain has faced a string of railway accidents in one week, including one of Europe’s deadliest in recent years, raising questions about whether main...
Hermès menswear designer Véronique Nichanian presented her final collection on Saturday at Paris Fashion Week, ending nearly four decades in the rol...
Almost 4,000 flights were cancelled across the United States on Saturday as a monster winter storm threatened to paralyse the eastern states with heav...
U.S. President Donald Trump has said he will not attend the National Football League’s Super Bowl on 8 February, citing the distance to the venue as...
Russia’s Defence Ministry said its forces had taken control of the village of Starytsya in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region on Saturday, near the border t...
Hermès menswear designer Véronique Nichanian presented her final collection on Saturday at Paris Fashion Week, ending nearly four decades in the role as she prepares to hand over to British designer Grace Wales Bonner.
Almost 4,000 flights were cancelled across the United States on Saturday as a monster winter storm threatened to paralyse the eastern states with heavy snowfall, sleet and freezing rain, while utilities from Texas to the Midwest faced power outages.
U.S. President Donald Trump has said he will not attend the National Football League’s Super Bowl on 8 February, citing the distance to the venue as the main reason.
Russia’s Defence Ministry said its forces had taken control of the village of Starytsya in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region on Saturday, near the border town of Vovchansk. Kyiv’s military did not confirm the claim, while Russian forces also reported strikes on drone and energy sites.
Firefighters were clearing the charred ruins of a Karachi shopping mall in Pakistan on Tuesday (20 January) as they searched for people still missing after a fire that burned for nearly two days and killed at least 67 people, police said.
Iran will treat any military attack as an “all-out war,” a senior Iranian official said on Friday, as the United States moves additional naval and air assets into the Middle East amid rising tensions.
Trilateral negotiations between Ukraine, Russia and the U.S. entered a second day in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, following an initial round of talks described by officials as productive.
In the snowy peaks of Davos, where the world’s most powerful leaders gather for the 56th World Economic Forum, a new narrative is emerging that challenges the current dominance of artificial intelligence (AI).
Jared Kushner, U.S. President Donald Trump’s senior adviser, unveiled plans for a “New Gaza” on 23 January in Davos. The initiative to rebuild the war‑torn territory with residential, industrial, and tourism zones accompanies the launch of Trump’s Board of Peace to end the Israel-Hamas war.
Spain has faced a string of railway accidents in one week, including one of Europe’s deadliest in recent years, raising questions about whether maintenance investment is keeping pace with soaring passenger demand on the world’s largest high-speed rail network.
Almost 4,000 flights were cancelled across the United States on Saturday as a monster winter storm threatened to paralyse the eastern states with heavy snowfall, sleet and freezing rain, while utilities from Texas to the Midwest faced power outages.
U.S. President Donald Trump has said he will not attend the National Football League’s Super Bowl on 8 February, citing the distance to the venue as the main reason.
Russia’s Defence Ministry said its forces had taken control of the village of Starytsya in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region on Saturday, near the border town of Vovchansk. Kyiv’s military did not confirm the claim, while Russian forces also reported strikes on drone and energy sites.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has said it regrets the United States’ formal decision to withdraw from the UN health body and has expressed hope that Washington will eventually resume active engagement with the agency.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment