Croatian President Wins Second Term

The incumbent Croatian President Stjepan Mesic won a second five-year term in office in a presidential runoff on Jan. 16, the State Electoral Commission (DIP) announced, citing returns from 99.73 per cent of the polling stations.

Croatian President Wins Second Term The incumbent Croatian President Stjepan Mesic won a second five-year term in office in a presidential runoff on Jan. 16, the State Electoral Commission (DIP) announced, citing returns from 99.73 per cent of the polling stations. Mesic, who had the backing of eight political parties, won 66 per cent of the vote while Deputy Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) earned 34 per cent, according to the DIP. Slightly more than 51 per cent of the electorate turned out for the vote, or 2.3 million out of 4.4 million eligible voters. Sunday’s runoff was held because Mesic won about 49 per cent of the votes in the first round of voting held Jan. 2, falling just short of the required absolute majority. In an address to the nation after his victory was confirmed, Mesic called on all citizens and political parties to reach a consensus on strategic national issues – admission to the European Union and economic development. He said one of his first initiatives in that direction would be the adoption of a national development strategy. This was Croatia’s fourth presidential elections since gaining independence in 1992.

Press releases