HDZ Wins 66 Seats after Nearly 95% of Polling Stations Processed
ZAGREB, July 6, 2020 - The Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) has scored a convincing victory in Sunday's parliamentary election, winning 66 seats, while the Social Democratic Party-led Restart Coalition has won 41, the State Election Commission said in the early hours of Monday after processing 94.90% of polling stations.
The Homeland Movement has won 16 seats, the Bridge party eight and the green-left coalition led by the We Can! platform seven.
The coalition of the Party with a First and Last Name, Pametno and Fokus has won three seats, while the Croatian People's Party (HNS) and Reformists have each won one.
These results comprise the votes of 46.62% of the electorate.
HDZ - 66
Restart Coalition - 41
Homeland Movement - 6
MOST - 8
Mozemo - 7
Pametno, Fokus, SSIP - 3
HNS - 1
Reformisti - 1
For more election coverage, follow the dedicated TCN link.
Medjimurje to Zumberak: Transporting Croatia's 1st Free-Range Wagyu Cows
July 5, 2020 - The first free-range Japanese Wagyu cows arrived in 200,000 m2 of idyllic natural heaven in Zumberak Nature Park this week. It was quite a journey to get them there.
The corona lockdown was a time like no other, as we were all forced to confront and adapt to a new reality. New friendships were made, many of them virtual given the restricted movement, and innovative business ideas came to the fore.
None more so than Nikola Bozic, the visionary owner of top meat restaurant, Djurina Hiza in Varazdinske Toplice, one of the few restaurants that many people from Zagreb get into the car to enjoy (it is about 45 minutes from the capital). And with succulent servings like this, it is not hard to understand why.
Rather than staying idle and putting his staff on gardening leave, Nikola was perhaps the only restaurant in Croatia which not only did not lay off any staff, but actually hired more people during the lockdown. While other restaurant owners were catching up on Netflix movies, Nikola started a national steak delivery service, while also offering his burgers (he won gold at the 2019 Zagreb Burger Festival), high-quality wines, olive and pumpkin oils and other top quality products. There were more than a few frustrated expats holed up in their apartments who welcomed Nikola after TCN publicised the service in Need a Steak Delivery? Top Croatian Restaurant Starts National Delivery Service.
I didn't know Nikola that well before the lockdown, but we have become good friends during and since, and I accompanied him to Munich, Luxemburg and Brussels on his first international trip to expand his delivery service (full story on TCN soon). And I am delighted that he has decided to join our CROMADS initiative.
We were introduced over dinner a few years ago, and I visited Djurina Hiza soon after for the first time. Apart from trolling each other on Facebook, that is as far as it went until the legend that is Ribafish suggested we meet for dinner in Varazdinske Toplice back in February to check out the dry-aged meat Nikola was bringing to the market.
It was only on that evening that I really saw what Djurina Hiza was all about. A total focus on quality, with no compromise. The highest quality local produce, with the plan to start rearing his own meat supply.
On the drive to Brussels, he told me that he had bought four Wagyu cows, the Japanese beef that is among the most expensive in the world. Although there have been a few Wagyu cows in Croatia, he believed that his would be the first to be free-range, as he has organised an initial 200,000 m2 of pristine nature in Zumberak Nature Park. The plan was to give each of the cows 1.5 hectares of land to themselves, according to the Swiss model, and in Zumberak they have much more than that. He invited me to join him on the trip to Medjimurje and then the transportation to Zumberak and the small eco-village 770 m2 above sea level miles from anywhere.
200,000 m2 for four Wagyu cows seemed a fantasy when we arrived at the village in Medjimurje where the cows were currently being held.
In total, there are 43 cows at this facility.
They include a variety of international species, including Belgian Blue.
Persuading the cows that they were going to a much better place was not easy, but after an hour, we were on our way.
The first port of call was the Veterinary station in Jastrebarkso to register the animals.
And then the real journey began.
What already felt remote suddenly got even remoter, as we left the paved roads for a 9 km journey on a rougher road.
For the last kilometre, we drove very slowly, as we were stuck behind a tractor with trailer which was carrying large containers of water.
It just so happened that this water was being transported just for the four new Wagyu cows, who were soon to arrive.
Getting the water delivered was not without its problems.
The team at the eco-village made sure the drinking trough was in place, with ample space for all. These cows apparently need up to 100 litres a day each.
And then the moment of magic. Releasing the cows into the field must have been a confusing moment. All collars were removed from the three female cows - Ermintrude, Florence and Zebedee (named in honour of the cult children's TV show, The Magic Roundabout, in the UK in the 1970's) - while Dougal the male was initially tied to a tree in the shade with plentiful grass until he was calm enough to be released.
As you can see above, Ermintrude was a little confused with her first steps of freedom, but it did not take her long to start skipping along. I must confess I have never seen a cow skip before.
The eco-village is the brainchild of serial entrepreneur Davorin Stetner, who is from the area. The village used to have 70 inhabitants. Today it has none. And the four new black Japanese residents are the first cows in the area for 40 years. Nikola (in Croatian) and Davorin (in English) told us more about the project in the video above (this interview will soon be on YouTube with English subtitles and I will post it here).
It was time to set Dougal free. Davorin invited me to assist freeing the bull. Call me a coward perhaps, but I suggested I would be more use the other side of the fence documenting the whole thing. Being alone in a field with a confused bull with just Davorin for protection did not fill me with enthusiasm.
In he went, and it took three attempts before he managed to succeed. In the first above, he emerged with a cut finger as Dougal resisted his efforts.
He returned with a peace offering of water, but still did not succeed. Success was just around the corner, however, and soon Dougal was also free. It was not too long before he was also enjoying the attention of the three ladies, apparently.
And that is how the first free-range Wagyu cows came to find a slice of pristine nature in Croatia, in pristine fields with abundant water and grass, some 770 metres above sea-level. A far cry from how they started the day in Medjimurje.
We will write more on the eco-village shortly, and I am delighted that Davorin has also agreed to join our CROMADS team. There are so many outstanding and authentic experiences in Croatia which most people do not know about. While we may keep some of the hidden gems secret, CROMADS will start connecting some of these magical places soon after we launch.
A great project and a great day - and another random one in this fabulous country.
Read more - How Djurina Hiza Owner Overcame Corona Crisis and Created A New Brand
Tesla&Friends 2020 to be Held in Zagreb on 9-11 July
ZAGREB, July 5, 2020 - A round table discussion called "Innovations: From Idea to Realisation", which will be held on 9 July in Zagreb, will usher in a three-day event in memory of 164th anniversary of the birth of inventor Nikola Tesla.
The event is being organised by the Nikola Tesla Association - Genius for the Future which will hold a conference on Tesla's inventions and patents and their application in the economy, in Zagreb on 11 July.
The event is being held under the auspices of Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandrokovic, the ministries of science and economy, the City of Zagreb administration, the Croatian Chamber of Commerce, Transparency International Croatia and Rochester Institute of Technology Croatia.
Putting Croatia's Coronavirus Numbers in Perspective
July 5, 2020 - Taking a closer look at Croatia's coronavirus numbers and comparing to the rest of Europe.
Let me start by saying that everyone has their own corona perspective. Mine was spent on the idyllic island of Hvar, where I spent 63 days of bliss watching the world collapse around me. There were a total of two cases of corona on Hvar, both imported from locals returning from jobs in Austria.
Croatia handled the initial corona crisis as well as any country in Europe. Today's official stats for a country of 4 million people are as follows:
Total cases - 3,151
Total Deaths - 113
Active Cases - 842
Active Cases on the coast - 104
Number of patients on ventilators - 4
Total Deaths in the last 30 days - 10
There is talk of a second wave in Croatia. The official statistics show that there has not been more than 100 cases a day, if the numbers are to believed. The current number of daily cases is the same as the peak in Croatia several weeks ago.
This not being my area of expertise, I asked for some guidance in understanding from experts.
Watch the number of patients on ventilators, I was told. That will give you an accurate picture.
There are currently four patients on a ventilator.
Some think corona is a hoax, some think it is the real deal. I am not going to enter that argument. All I want to do is present the data, and let the people decide for themselves.
Croatia has a total of 113 deaths, 10 of which have come in the last 30 days, reports Worldometer.
Of the 842 active cases reported by Koronavirus, 104 are on the coast and islands.
Is it safe to visit? I am not going to enter the discussion on health v tourism and the economy, as the discussions are complex and my opinion is irrelevant. All I can do is point out the real situation away from the headlines, and then let people decide.
For the latest travel info, bookmark our main travel info article, which is updated daily.
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Join the Total Croatia Travel INFO Viber community.
Netokracija Features the Success of the Total Croatia Travel INFO Viber Community
July 5, 2020 - The Croatian media has started to take an interest in the Total Croatia Travel INFO Viber community. An interview with one of its founders by Netokracija.
The TCN Total Croatia Travel INFO Viber community is attracting the interest of the Croatian media. I am very grateful to Mia Biberovic, Editor-in-Chief of Netokracija for the interview opportunity. English version below - original version in Croatian here.
What kind of information is the most interesting for foreigners?
Dubrovnik, an Incredible Destination with Incredibly Bad Tourism: Time to Refocus?
July 5, 2020 - TCN interview with Dubrovacki Vjesnik about tourism in Dubrovnik, an incredible destination with incredibly bad tourism. Time to refocus?
I had an email from Lorita Vierda recently, a journalist from Dubrovacki Vjesnik, which resulted in an interview which was published yesterday - you can see the Croatian version here. Below, the English version.
First of all, your name has been popping up almost every day, especially when it comes to the crisis, tourism and possible solutions for survival. Why is that? Doesn't Croatia have like a million experts in those matters, that we citizens pay to give us direction, to solve the problems, to offer some kind of path to recovery?
Croatian Elections 2020: Exit Poll Results
July 5, 2020 - The 2020 Croatian elections were held today in Croatia, amidst the coronavirus-crisis. We bring you the latest on the exit polls and the official results.
21:00 Updated exit poll:
HDZ - 70
Restart Coalition - 42
Miroslav Škoro's Domovinski pokret - 15
Možemo! - 5
Most - 6
Pametno - 2
HSS - 2
Reformisti - 2
20:00 Updated exit poll:
HDZ - 62
Restart Coalition - 43
Miroslav Škoro's Domovinski pokret - 14
Možemo! - 8
Most - 9
Pametno - 3
HSS - 1
Exit polls: At 7 pm, when the Croatian parliamentary elections 2020 closed, the results of the exit polls were published. The results are as follows:
HDZ - 61
Restart Coalition - 44
Miroslav Škoro's Domovinski pokret - 16
Možemo! - 8
Most - 8
Pametno - 3
Results at 01:00, with 95% of the votes counted:
HDZ - 66
Restart Coalition - 41
Miroslav Škoro's Domovinski pokret - 16
Možemo! - 7
Most - 8
Pametno, Fokus, SSIP - 3
HNS - 1
Reformisti - 1
Update (5 pm): In the parliamentary elections of 2016, almost 38 percent of the voters voted before 4:30 pm. Today, that number is significantly lower, 34.04 percent of the voters.
Update (3 pm): The State Electoral Commission reported that by 11:30, 18.09% of the voters already cast their votes, which is not a significant reduction compared to the 2016 elections.
The tenth Croatian Parliament since independence in the early nineties was elected in Croatia today, in the election strongly influenced by the different consequences of the crisis caused by the COVID-19 in Croatia and worldwide. The polls suggested that we would, once again, have elections with unclear results, and it was obvious that the worldwide crisis will influence both the number of people voting and the final results. After a legal battle, the voters infected with the coronavirus were allowed to cast their votes, and the entire voting process is overshadowed by the epidemiological measures.
Croatia has 57 New Cases of COVID-19
ZAGREB, July 5, 2020 - Fifty-seven new cases of infection with the novel coronavirus have been reported in Croatia in the last 24 hours, and the number of people infected with the virus currently stands at 842, the national COVID-19 response team said in a statement on Sunday.
Of the active cases, 93 are receiving hospital treatment, including four patients who are on ventilators.
There have been no new fatalities in the last 24 hours and 4,801 people are in self-isolation.
Since the first case of infection with COVID-19 on February 25, 3,151 people have contracted the disease, of whom 113 have died while 2,196 have recovered.
So far 85,410 people have been tested for the virus, including 1,244 in the last 24 hours.
Voters Not Discouraged by Coronavirus, Turnout by Noon Good
ZAGREB, July 5, 2020 - The coronavirus pandemic and restrictions introduced to curb the spreading of the virus did not discourage Croatians from going to the polls on Sunday, with 18.09% of eligible voters having voted by noon on Sunday.
According to data from the State Electoral Commission, 620,000 voters cast their ballots by noon, which is only about 20,000 fewer voters than in the 2016 elections.
Nearly four years ago, 640,000 or 18.7% of voters cast their ballots by noon.
DIP will release updated information on the turnout at 5 p.m.
Earlier in the day, the GONG election-monitoring nongovernmental organisation said that apart from crowding at some polling stations and several complaints by citizens wishing to vote outside their place of residence, the voting on Sunday morning was proceeding normally.
55 Coronavirus-Positive Voters Want to Participate in Sunday Election
ZAGREB, July 5, 2020 - Fifty-five people infected with the novel coronavirus have expressed a wish to vote in the July 5 parliamentary election in Croatia.
Most of them, 24, come from Constituency No. 4, 16 come from the first constituency, nine from the fifth, four from the seventh and two from the tenth constituency, State Electoral Commission member Slaven Hojski said on Sunday morning.
People infected with the coronavirus will be able to vote with the help of another person of their confidence, who will fill in the ballot as instructed by the infected person and give it to a member of a polling committee who will visit them and collect the ballot without coming into direct contact with the infected person.
A total of 3.860 million people have the right to vote in Sunday's elections, and 539 people in self-isolation have applied to vote as well. A total of 1,730 people want to vote at home (bed-ridden, severely ill people).
According to available information, the voting is proceeding normally, voters are behaving responsibly, wearing protective equipment and complying with rules of physical distancing.
The first report on the turnout will be published at noon.
