ZAGREB, Croatia — Croatia is voting Wednesday in a parliamentary election after a marketing campaign centered on a bitter rivalry between the president and prime minister that has sparked a political disaster within the small European Union and NATO member.
The poll pits the ruling conservative Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) led by Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic in opposition to an alliance of centrist and left-wing events informally led by populist President Zoran Milanovic and his Social Democratic Celebration (SDP).
The election is being held as Croatia struggles with the very best inflation fee within the eurozone, a labor scarcity, unlawful migration and studies of widespread corruption.
At stake within the race for Croatia’s 151-seat parliament isn’t just the Adriatic Sea nation’s future home insurance policies but additionally the EU’s unity because it grapples with the instability from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
If the HDZ stays in energy, the nation would proceed a pro-Western course in supporting Ukraine in its combat in opposition to Russia. Successful for SDP might put it on observe for victory within the European Parliament elections in June and the presidential election in December. It might shake the HDZ’s lengthy dominance of politics and doubtlessly open house for stronger pro-Russian affect within the nation, akin to Hungary and Slovakia.
Polls shut Wednesday night and official outcomes are anticipated Thursday.
Most preelection polls predicted a HDZ victory, however with out sufficient seats to rule alone. The left-wing opposition might profit from discontent with the nation’s excessive inflation and the final financial malaise in most EU member states. Smaller events on the best and the left could possibly be key to each the HDZ and SDP of their quest to energy.
The HDZ has largely held energy since Croatia gained independence from the previous Yugoslavia in 1991. The Balkan nation turned the latest member of the European Union in 2013, and joined Europe’s passport-free journey space and the eurozone final 12 months.
The president holds a largely ceremonial position in Croatia, whereas the prime minister exerts many of the political energy. The election has performed out as the ultimate episode within the long-running rivalry between Plenkovic and Milanovic.
After Milanovic scheduled the election and introduced his shock bid for prime minister, he started campaigning on behalf of the SDP. However Croatia’s constitutional court docket judges stepped in, saying the transfer was unconstitutional.
They stated that the president can’t run for prime minister, participate within the parliamentary election or marketing campaign in favor of any social gathering, until he first resigns.
Milanovic refused, brazenly ignoring the highest court docket and persevering with to marketing campaign in favor of the left-wing alliance He accused Plenkovic and the HDZ of rampant corruption and “huge theft” of state funds, referring to previous and current scandals, a few of which had ended up within the courts.
Plenkovic, who has led the federal government since 2016, repeatedly denied the accusations, saying Milanovic because the prime minister would shift the nation away from the EU and nearer to Russia.
Milanovic has usually voiced a pro-Russian stance throughout the battle in Ukraine, opposing the coaching of Ukrainian troopers in Croatia in addition to sending weapons to Ukraine as a result of, in his view, it solely prolongs the battle. He additionally criticized EU’s insurance policies over Ukraine.