Croats pleased with election results as ruling HDZ wins parliamentary vote

Record ID: 1560980

  • Title: Croats pleased with election results as ruling HDZ wins parliamentary vote
  • Date: 6th July 2020
  • Summary: NEWSPAPERS ON NEWSSTAND PEOPLE SITTING IN CAFE WOMAN READING NEWSPAPER (SOUNDBITE) (Croatian) ZAGREB RESIDENT, MARIJA SEKELIL, SAYING: "Terrific! It is without a doubt an absolute triumph of Mr Plenkovic (HDZ leader and incumbent Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic) above all. For me, he is an ideal politician. I am not a member of any party, but I cheer for him and I am glad indeed that he won." (SOUNDBITE) (Croatian) DUBROVNIK RESIDENT, BRANKO KLESKOVIC, SAYING: "It is for the first time in 30 years that I voted for HDZ. It is because I think they meet all the conditions -and they are the biggest party as well - to continue with what they were doing." (SOUNDBITE) (Croatian) ZAGREB RESIDENT, DANKO (LAST NAME NOT GIVEN), SAYING: "Well, it wasn't my choice, but they have my congratulations. It will be the same as it was. I hope we will survive (laugh)." (SOUNDBITE) (Croatian) ZAGREB RESIDENT, DAMIR (LAST NAME NOT GIVEN), SAYING: "We will continue to fight coronavirus and (deal with consequences) of the earthquake the government had to face (in the previous period). And now - we need some changes so that the country can go forward, towards betterment - that the young people stay (here), that our economy grows, and that's it." PEOPLE AT TRAM STOP MONUMENT OF BAN JELACIC
  • Embargoed: 20th July 2020 09:58
  • Keywords: Croatian Democratic Union Croatian election HDZ Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic parliamentary vote
  • Location: ZAGREB, CROATIA
  • City: ZAGREB, CROATIA
  • Country: Croatia
  • Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
  • Reuters ID: LVA003CLO9LBT
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Croats said on Monday (July 6) they were pleased with the results of parliamentary election convincingly won by country's ruling centre-right Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), held at a time of rising coronavirus infections and a sharp economic downturn due to the pandemic.
    The official results after around 60% of votes were counted gave the HDZ 68 seats in the 151-seat parliament, while its top opponent, the Social Democrats (SDP) and its small allies, secured 43 seats.
    Zagreb residents said the election result was a "triumph" for HDZ leader and incumbent Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, with most happy to see a continuation of the current government's policies.
    The HDZ will now seek partners to form yet another ruling coalition which analysts believe should not be too difficult given their strong performance.
    The new government will have an uphill task to keep a grip on the coronavirus while trying to restore the economy, which is expected to shrink about 10% this year. Tourism revenues are forecast to slump 70%.
    Croatia has reported a relatively small number of COVID-19 infections - a little over 3,000 cases and some 100 deaths so far - but infections have accelerated in the past two weeks, with the daily number of new cases peaking at about 80.
    (Production: Fedja Grulovic, Branko Filipovic, Malgorzata Wojtunik)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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