According to the first unofficial results from the State Election Commission (DIP), after processing 31.53 percent of polling stations, Zagreb residents gave the most votes to Milan Bandić, Osijek residents to Bubalo, and Rijeka residents to Obersnel.
Milan Bandić and Rajko Ostojić advance to the second round of the mayoral elections in Zagreb.
– We have won, but this victory means responsibility. This is the beginning of a new path that will not stop in Zagreb, said Bandić. He thanked the citizens and the media. Politics is a harsh craft, bread with fifteen crusts. These people did not come on the list to realize themselves; they have their political careers. Zagreb residents cannot be deceived – these were the first statements from Milan Bandić.
Milanka Opačić, Ostojić’s party colleague, also commented on the results. She emphasized that it is important for them that they have secured a second round, which will give the citizens of Zagreb another chance to think.
According to the first unofficial partial results from DIP, Ivo Baldasar won the most votes for the mayor of Split, followed by Vjekoslav Ivanišević. Željko Kerum is currently losing the chance to enter the second round. Kerum has already congratulated his candidates.
– Of course, I am satisfied because I am obviously going to the second round – said Baldasar, not wanting to comment in detail on the exit polls until he receives official results.
In Osijek, according to unofficial results from DIP, Krešimir Bubalo and Ivan Vrkić entered the second round for the mayoral election. After them, the most votes were won by Dražen Vidović.
Krešimir Bubalo, who has held the position of mayor until now, said that the results were expected. He expressed confidence that after June 2, the current government will continue the projects started and begin to realize new ones. Ivica Vrkić expressed satisfaction with the achieved result, adding that although these are exit polls, they say a lot. First of all, he said, it is clear that the time has come for a change of government in Osijek, which will happen after June 2.
Interestingly, both of Croatia’s strongest parties, SDP and HDZ, consider themselves the winners of these elections, as HDZ president Tomislav Karamarko listed all the cities where HDZ achieved the best results ever in his address from the headquarters.
– I am glad that I can address you again and tell you that we have something to rejoice about. I can say that we have truly won. Given the situation and analyses, I can say that Croatia has flooded again – said Karamarko.
Slavko Linić also commented on the results, stating that it is obvious that the government received positive ratings, but he admitted that the results in Zagreb are worse than they expected.
– The result in Zagreb is a message that cohabitations are very difficult – said Linić, who is not surprised that in some areas candidates with scandals have won.
Results for mayor/municipal chief at 11:00 PM:
VUKOVAR
IVAN PENAVAHDZ, (HSP AS, HSLS, DC, BUZ) – 44.27%, ŽELJKO SABO (SDP, HSU, GREEN LIST) – 40%,
