Exit polls: Opposition member, Zagreb mayor in runoff of Croatian presidential elections

Polls: Opposition member, Zagreb mayor in runoff

ZAGREB, Croatia — An exit poll from Sunday’s presidential elections in Croatia has indicated that a leftist opposition candidate and a longtime mayor of Zagreb will face off in a runoff vote.

Both candidates are considered pro-Western and friendly toward the U.S., and both will likely support Croatia’s efforts to win entry into the European Union, possibly in 2011 or 2012.

The poll, carried out by Ipsos-Puls, considered a reliable polling agency, and released just after polling stations closed, gave leftist Social Democrat member Ivo Josipovic 32.7 percent of the vote. It showed Mayor Milan Bandic — an independent — would win 14.1 percent of the vote.

Andrija Hebrang, a member of the conservative ruling party, trailed with 12 percent, according to the poll, which was made public by the commercial Nova TV and RTL television stations. The margin of error was about 3 percent.

The first official results are expected around midnight (2300 GMT) Sunday. If no candidate gets more than 50 percent of the vote, the two top vote-getters will compete in a runoff Jan. 10.

Josipovic, a legal expert and classical music composer from the opposition Social Democrats, had led in pre-election polls.

Bandic, the mayor of Zagreb, is a populist, embraced by many despite allegations of political cronyism. He was kicked out of the Social Democrat Party when he decided to run for president even though the party had elected Josipovic as its candidate.

Hebrang was twice a health minister, and Nadan Vidosevic, who was just behind Hebrang in polls, has been the head of the country’s Chamber of Commerce.

The former Yugoslav republic, which joined NATO in April and hopes to enter the EU soon, is choosing its third president since independence in 1991.

The election was marked by allegations of corruption as the country tries to fight graft and smooth its entry into the European Union.

Twelve candidates were running to replace popular President Stipe Mesic, who helped discourage the nationalism promoted by his predecessor in the 1990s, and encouraged a shift to the West, including joining NATO this year and launching membership negotiations with the EU.

The campaign focused on economic recovery and Croatia’s widespread corruption — both issues that have concerned many voters.

Andrea Majer-Livakovic, 27, a professor of English, said it was imperative for the country to elect an honest politician.

“Otherwise, I’ll move out of this country,” he said.

The initial turnout was low, at about 34 percent, three hours before voting was to end — 8 percent lower than in last presidential vote.

Though the president’s power is largely ceremonial and the Cabinet and parliament are the main decision-makers, the president is the army’s supreme commander and has strong influence over foreign policy.

The post also commands moral authority.

About 4.4 million people — including about 400,000 Croats living abroad — were eligible to vote. Polling stations closed at 7 p.m. (1800 GMT).