Zagreb - Mr Stipe Mesic swept to victory in Croatia's presidential election yesterday and vowed to build a new era of democracy and openness in a country blighted by years of autocratic rule.
Mr Mesic, a centrist, crowned his victorious comeback to Croatia's political scene by defeating liberal Mr Drazen Budisa with a crushing 10-point lead, according to the first results released by both parties' electoral headquarters.
Mr Mesic is Croatia's second president since it won independence from the former Yugoslavia in 1991. He succeeds the late nationalist leader Dr Franjo Tudjman, who ruled the country by strong-arm methods for almost a decade, leading Croatia into international isolation and a deep economic and social crisis.