Bandic and Kerum win mayoral races in runoffs in Zagreb and Split
ZAGREB, May 31 (Hina) - Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate Milan Bandic overwhelmingly defeated independent candidate Josip Kregar in the second round of the mayoral race in Zagreb on Sunday, capturing 61.84 per cent of the vote, the State Electoral Commission announced at 11pm after ballots from all polling stations in major cities were counted.
Kregar received 36.62 per cent of votes. In the first round two weeks ago, the incumbent Bandic won 48.54 per cent and Kregar 23.18 per cent.
In the second largest city, Split, independent candidate Zeljko Kerum garnered 56.87 per cent of votes, while his SDP rival, Ranko Ostojic, took 40.75 per cent. In the first round, Kerum had a 5.5 per cent lead with 40.21 per cent.
In the eastern city of Osijek, Kresimir Bubalo, the candidate of the regional Croatian Democratic Party of Slavonia and Baranja (HDSSB), the Croatian People's Party (HNS) and the Greens, won 63.14 per cent of votes, while his rival from the Croatian Party of Rights (HSP), Anto Djapic, received the support of the 34.45 per cent of the electorate. In the first round, Bubalo gained 38.71 per cent and Djapic 22.94 per cent.
In the historic coastal city of Dubrovnik, the candidate of the HNS, SDP, HSU (Croatian Pensioners' Party) and HSLS (Croatian Social Liberal Party), Andro Vlahusic, received 54.32 per cent of votes, while Dubravka Suica of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) got 43.87 per cent. Two weeks ago, Vlahusic garnered 42.91 per cent and Suica 39.11 per cent.
The new Mayor of Vukovar will be SDP candidate Zeljko Sabo after winning 51.03 per cent of the vote. His opponent, Damir Barna, backed by a coalition of the HDZ, HSP, HSU, HSS (Croatian Peasant Party), HSLS and SDSS (Independent Democratic Serb Party), gained 47.61 per cent.
Sisak saw a tight race between Dinko Pintaric, the candidate of an HDZ-led coalition, and Davorko Vidovic, who was backed by the SDO, HNS, DSU (Democratic Pensioners' Party), DC (Democratic Centre) and SDSS. Pintaric emerged victorious with a margin of 245 votes, capturing 49.65 per cent, while Vidovic captured 48.64 per cent of the vote.
In Velika Gorica, just south of Zagreb, the candidate of the HDZ, HSS, HSP and HSU, Drazen Barisic, maintained the lead from the first round, gaining 54.99 per cent of the vote, while the incumbent mayor, Tonino Picula, backed by the SDP, DC and HSLS, received 43.77 per cent, according to returns from 67 of the 68 polling stations.
Kregar received 36.62 per cent of votes. In the first round two weeks ago, the incumbent Bandic won 48.54 per cent and Kregar 23.18 per cent.
In the second largest city, Split, independent candidate Zeljko Kerum garnered 56.87 per cent of votes, while his SDP rival, Ranko Ostojic, took 40.75 per cent. In the first round, Kerum had a 5.5 per cent lead with 40.21 per cent.
In the eastern city of Osijek, Kresimir Bubalo, the candidate of the regional Croatian Democratic Party of Slavonia and Baranja (HDSSB), the Croatian People's Party (HNS) and the Greens, won 63.14 per cent of votes, while his rival from the Croatian Party of Rights (HSP), Anto Djapic, received the support of the 34.45 per cent of the electorate. In the first round, Bubalo gained 38.71 per cent and Djapic 22.94 per cent.
In the historic coastal city of Dubrovnik, the candidate of the HNS, SDP, HSU (Croatian Pensioners' Party) and HSLS (Croatian Social Liberal Party), Andro Vlahusic, received 54.32 per cent of votes, while Dubravka Suica of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) got 43.87 per cent. Two weeks ago, Vlahusic garnered 42.91 per cent and Suica 39.11 per cent.
The new Mayor of Vukovar will be SDP candidate Zeljko Sabo after winning 51.03 per cent of the vote. His opponent, Damir Barna, backed by a coalition of the HDZ, HSP, HSU, HSS (Croatian Peasant Party), HSLS and SDSS (Independent Democratic Serb Party), gained 47.61 per cent.
Sisak saw a tight race between Dinko Pintaric, the candidate of an HDZ-led coalition, and Davorko Vidovic, who was backed by the SDO, HNS, DSU (Democratic Pensioners' Party), DC (Democratic Centre) and SDSS. Pintaric emerged victorious with a margin of 245 votes, capturing 49.65 per cent, while Vidovic captured 48.64 per cent of the vote.
In Velika Gorica, just south of Zagreb, the candidate of the HDZ, HSS, HSP and HSU, Drazen Barisic, maintained the lead from the first round, gaining 54.99 per cent of the vote, while the incumbent mayor, Tonino Picula, backed by the SDP, DC and HSLS, received 43.77 per cent, according to returns from 67 of the 68 polling stations.
