Polls close in Croatia after tight parliamentary election

New exit poll was just published for Croatian Parliamentary elections on Sunday, November 8, 2015.

Prime Minister Milanovic, however, has seemingly gained support for both showing compassion for the migrants and pledging to defend national interests. The first, preliminary, official results will be released at 10 p.m. (2100 GMT). The victor faces the tough task of reviving a fragile economy and handling the huge numbers of refugees passing through the country each day. The new government will consist of a 151-seat parliament that will be occupied by members from several small parties.

The conservative Coalition favours a tougher stance than its main rival, the ruling Social Democrats, on the refugee issue, seeking stricter border controls to manage the flow of people crossing Croatia on their way to western Europe.

The neck-and-neck finish means both the Social Democrats and HDZ, led by Tomislav Karamarko, have a chance to build support among other parties to form a government, which must build on a nascent economic recovery in the Adriatic state of 4.2 million people.

Croatia has become a transit hub for migrants, many from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq, who want to travel north. Croatian Interior Minister Ranko Ostojic said that the cost of managing the arrivals was close to 284,000 dollars a day.

This could allow the Social Democrats to hold on to power even if they win fewer votes.

“At the moment it is quite hard to say which side will be favored by the smaller parties”, political analyst Viseslav Raos said. The Most party, which represents minority factions, was third with 18 mandates that make it a potential kingmaker. The party, founded three years ago, has urged for reforms of a bloated public sectory and improving the business climate. It only recently emerged from a six-year recession. After voting, Kitarovic said “I am an optimist and I believe voter turnout will be high and that this election will be a celebration of democracy”. The HDZ says it can achieve faster growth than the current one percent.