Croatia's HDZ Wins Counties, Loses Cities

Croatia's ruling Croatian Democratic Union, HDZ, and its partner won the majority of seats in 14 county assemblies, preliminary results of local elections show.  

But HDZ failed to gain control of both Zagreb and the country's second largest city Split.

The State Election Commission said the Democratic Party, SDP won a majority of seats in five of the assemblies, and the Istrian Democratic Party one county assembly, according to the Hina newsagency.

Results show that opposition Democratic Party, SDP, and Croatian Pensioners Party candidate Milan Bandic with 49 per cent of the Zagreb vote, and independent candidate businessman Zeljko Kerum, in the lead in Split.

Since neither candidate scored above the 50 per cent threshhold needed to secure an outright victory, both candidates will face a run off in two weeks time. Neither will face an HDZ candidate.

HDZ members put a brave face on the defeat in the cities, pointing to their overall victory. Jadranka Kosor, HDZ deputy president, said that although the results are still incomplete, it is clear that her party is the winner. ''Everything proceeded as planned,'' she said.

She played down the significance of the news that initial early results showed that the opposition SDP lead the polls for the mayoral position in Zagreb.

Analysts point out that independent candidates scored high, a sign that many voters are tired of the traditional HDZ/SDP struggle and are looking for other alternatives.

A further sign of dissatisfaction is that 35 per cent of those registered to vote actually cast their ballot.  The elections are seen as an indication of where the current HDZ-led government stand in public opinions.

Opinion polls show that the state of the economy was foremost in voters' minds.

About 4 million voters were registered to vote.