Politics

ZAGREB, 16 May 2021 - New Left president Ivana Kekin said on Sunday that the first exit polls in Zagreb, according to which Tomislav Tomašević (We Can!, Zagreb Is Ours!) has won 48.6% of the vote for mayor, showed that people had realised it was time for a change. "The result is maybe even better than all the pre-election polls showed. We are very glad that citizens have obviously realised it's time for a change and that they have realised who can deliver that change," Kekin told Hina. According to the first exit polls in Zagreb, Tomašević has won 48.6% of the vote…

ZAGREB, 16 May, 2021 - Zagreb and Ljubljana are here to help their Western Balkan friends join the European Union because that is in everyone's interest, just as it is presumably in Slovenia's interest that Croatia enters the Schengen zone, Croatian President Zoran Milanović said in the Slovenian lakeside resort of Bled on Sunday. Milanović and his Slovenian host Borut Pahor held a working meeting ahead of the annual Brdo-Brijuni Process summit on Monday. The two presidents are the co-chairs of this initiative. Over the last ten years, the Brdo-Brijuni Process has shown that "it makes perfect sense," Milanović told…

ZAGREB, 16 May, 2021 - Croatia held local elections on Sunday for 425 municipal and 127 city councils, 20 county assemblies and the Zagreb City Assembly, and exit polls released after the closing of polling stations at 7 pm show that the four largest cities will have a mayoral runoff on 30 May. ZAGREB In the capital, the mayoral candidate of the We Can! and Zagreb is Ours political groups, Tomislav Tomašević, mustered 48.6% of the vote, with the runner-up Jelena Pavičević Vukičević of the Labour and Solidarity Party winning 11.5%. SPLIT In this southern coastal city, Ivica Puljak of the Centre…

ZAGREB, 16 May, 2021 - A total of 15.47% of Croatians went to the polls in Sunday's local elections by noon, which is almost the same turnout as in the 2017 local election, when 15.98% of voters had voted by noon, the State Election Commission said. The commission will release new information on the turnout at 5 pm. The highest turnouts were reported in Lika-Senj County (21%), Dubrovnik-Neretva County (19%) and Varaždin County (17.4%). Sisak-Moslavina County, struck by a strong earthquake on 29 December, also had a rather good turnout, of 16.7%. Of the four big cities, the highest turnout was reported…

ZAGREB, 16 May 2021 - Polling stations were opened in Croatia on Sunday morning for local elections at which 3.660 million voters will be able to cast their ballots for local government bodies, mayors and county heads.  A total of 6,572 polling stations will be open from 7 am to 7 pm, and their closing will mark the end of two-day election silence. Nearly 39,000 candidates are running in the elections and their average age is 45, according to statistics released by the State Election Commission (DIP). All Croatian citizens over the age of 18, including EU citizens, who have residency in local…

May the 16th, 2021 - Minister Darko Horvat has come forward to answer questions about whether or not the Croatian Government has any plans up its sleeve to sell Croatia Airlines and even the well known and much loved brand Podravka. Croatia Airlines has been knee deep in financial trouble since long before anyone had even heard of COVID-19, which, of course, has done the enfeebled domestic carrier no favours whatsoever. The ongoing pandemic is only working to deepen the airline's already gravely serious issues and it doesn't seem like Ryanair's Zagreb arrival is going to be of any assistance…

oZAGREB, 15 May 2021 - Election silence began at 0000 hours on Saturday ahead of Sunday's local polls at which 3.660 million voters are eligible to elect authorities in 576 units of local government. Election silence is in force until 7pm on Sunday when polling stations close. During this time it is prohibited to publicly present platforms, persuade voters to vote for a slate or candidate, or publish estimates or unofficial election results. The State Electoral Commission has called on all participants in the elections as well as physical and legal entities and media to respect election silence. Fines for breaching it range…

ZAGREB, 14 May, 2021 - President and Armed Forces Supreme Commander Zoran Milanović said on Friday that Croatian interests would always be taken into account when sending Croatian troops into international missions. The Croatian army is the modern army of a democratic state, a state of equal citizens, which participates in international missions, Milanović said in Petrinja at a ceremony marking the 30th anniversary of the 2nd Guard Brigade Gromovi. "You too will participate in international missions. In deciding where, when and in what composition we will go, we will take account of first and foremost protecting Croatian interests," he said.…

ZAGREB, 14 May, 2021 - President and Armed Forces Supreme Commander Zoran Milanović said on Friday he was involved in the selection of fighter jets via the Main Staff chief, who answers to him, and via the Air Force commander. "The prime minister was untruthful again. Not a day goes by without that man telling a lie. He says I could have but did not get involved (...) But I did, via the chief of the Main Staff, who answers to me, via the Croatian Air Force commander," Milanović told reporters in Petrinja. "Do I have to say all the time that the…

ZAGREB, 14 May, 2021 - The fantastic exhibition "Croatia to the world" represents the best that Croatia has contributed to the world and it would be good if it were shown in diplomatic offices abroad to help to break down stereotypes, Foreign Minister Gordan Grlić Radman said on Friday. He was accompanying diplomats accredited in Croatia who were visiting the exhibition at the Meštrović Pavilion. The exhibition honour 38 greats linked to Croatia whose work left a deep trace on humankind. Apostolic Nuncio Giorgio Lingua, doyen of the diplomatic corps, thanked the minister on their behalf. "In order for the exhibition…