Opposition Social Democrat Ivo Josipovic scored a resounding victory in Croatia’s presidential election on Sunday, pledging to help the government’s efforts to complete European Union membership talks this year.
Josipovic, a law expert who promised to back Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor’s reform and anti-corruption campaigns — a key requirement from the EU — won 60.3 percent of votes, the state electoral commission said.
Zagreb mayor Milan Bandic, backed by the church and more conservative voters, mustered 39.7 percent of votes as an independent candidate.