Croatia ruling party heading for election win without majority: Exit poll
Al JazeeraAPR 2024
Croatia: HDZ Party Wins Most Seats, Not Majority
Image copyright: Andreena Campeanu/Stringer/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Spin
Left narrative
Plenković has made poor decisions regarding ministerial appointments, leaving his party vulnerable to the emerging far-right in the country. However, if he stops playing "who's the bigger alpha male" with Milanović, he can still bring together center-left parties to deter xenophobic, anti-EU populists.
Right narrative
After dominating Croatian politics since 1991, the HDZ is showing signs of weakness. Not only has the patriotic Homeland Movement gained two seats, but the liberal SDP is also tired of the status quo. A significant bipartisan faction of anti-EU parties can now use their popularity to stop the EU's disastrous gender, climate, and migration policies.