Opposition Social Democrat Ivo Josipovic convincingly won yesterday's Croatian presidential election, promising to help the government's efforts to complete European Union membership talks and join the bloc in 2012.
Mr Josipovic, a law expert and classical music composer who is relatively inexperienced in high politics, won 60.3 per cent of the vote in the second round run-off, the state electoral commission said early today. He will be Croatia's third president since independence from Yugoslavia in 1991.
Populist Zagreb mayor Milan Bandic, backed by the Roman Catholic church and more conservative voters, took 39.7 per cent of the vote as an independent candidate. He was expelled from the Social Democrats for insisting on running for president against the party's will.
Mr Josipovic promised to back Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor's drive to implement reforms and fight widespread corruption, as required by Brussels to complete EU accession talks this year.
"I want an uncompromising fight against corruption and organised crime. That is what I promised, that is what we'll achieve," Mr Josipovic said, to the cheers of his supporters.
"I strongly believe that we all want a better Croatia with more justice, that we want a country where work is paid for and crime is punished," he said.
The candidate of the ruling conservative HDZ party failed to make it to the runoff. But Ms Kosor, who took over in July and kick-started the new anti-corruption drive, remains the country's most popular politician.
"I believe Josipovic will support the government's efforts and that we'll cooperate well for the well-being of all our citizens," Ms Kosor said today.
The HDZ last week expelled Ms Kosor's predecessor, Ivo Sanader, after he announced a political comeback with a stinging attack on the party leadership and the government. Ms Kosor later said she felt stronger than ever and determined to press on with reforms.
Reuters