Croatia's ruling Social Democrats and their main opposition, the conservative Patriotic Coalition, appeared to tie in an election on Sunday, one exit poll showed, suggesting lengthy coalition talks with smaller parties in the newest European Union member.
The new government will have to nurture a tentative economic recovery after six years of recession and deal with thousands of migrants streaming through the tiny Adriatic state on their way to western and northern Europe.
Opinion polls ahead of the vote showed the conservative alliance led by the opposition HDZ party, which favours tougher controls on migration, holding a small lead, after a last-minute comeback by the Social Democrats.
Some 338,000 migrants have passed through Croatia since mid-September, crossing the border from Serbia at a daily rate of 5,000 and sometimes 10,000.
Few linger in Croatia, one of the poorest EU states where unemployment is at 16 percent, well above the bloc’s 9 percent average.
The HDZ, which steered Croatia to independence from Serb-dominated Yugoslavia in 1991, has accused the centre-left government of prime minister Zoran Milanovic of being soft and ineffectual in handling the migrant issue.
“I feel sorry for those people [migrants], but the migrant issue will not determine my vote,” said Marija (71). “I will vote for economic prosperity, a better life for the young and for the old.”
Family values
Political analysts say the HDZ, which plays on issues of national identity and family values in the mainly Catholic nation of 4.4 million, may struggle to attract sufficient support from smaller parties to build a stable government.
"At the moment it is quite difficult to say which side will be favoured by the smaller parties," said political analyst Viseslav Raos.
The exit poll showed the Most party (Croat for “bridge”) emerging as the third strongest group. Founded three years ago, Most says it will press for reforms of a bloated public sector and for a better business climate.
– (Reuters)