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Croatia president calls on parties consultations for people's benefit

Xinhua, November 9, 2015 Adjust font size:

Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic on Monday called on all parties running for parliamentary elections to join in the consultations for the benefit of people, after no party gaining a majority in the race.

She called on all elected members of the new parliament to put the interests of the state and people before the interests of their parties or any other interests.

"After consultations, I believe we will soon have a new prime minister-designate," she said.

Under the Croatian constitution, the president gives a mandate to form a government to a person who, based on the division of seats in the parliament and after consultations, enjoys the trust of a majority of all members of parliament.

The "Patriotic Coalition," led by the opposition Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) in Sunday's parliamentary elections with 59 seats and its main rival "Croatia Is Growing," led by ruling Social Democratic Party (SDP) won 56 seats, according to update results with 99.79 percent of ballots counted.

A coalition is likely to be necessary due to both leading parties fell short of the 76 seats needed for a majority to form a government. The third winner MOST with 19 seats could be a partner, but it has expressed not prepared to support either of the main parties in a coalition.

Around 61.12 percent of 3.8 million eligible voters cast their ballots in Sunday election, according to the State Electoral Commission (DIP).

More than 2,300 candidates from 166 lists, mostly party lists, are competing for the 151-seat parliament, of which 140 in the 10 constituencies in the country, eight from national minorities, and three from Croatian citizens residing abroad. Endit