Far-Right Party Emerges as Potential Kingmaker in Croatia’s Parliamentary Election
In a surprising turn of events, a far-right party has emerged as a potential kingmaker in Croatia after the governing conservatives finished first in a bitterly contested parliamentary election but fell short of winning enough seats to form a new government.
The Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), led by incumbent Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, secured 61 seats in the 151-member legislature, making it the largest party in the election. However, they will need support from other groups to form a government and secure a third term for Plenkovic.
The far-right Homeland Movement, which finished third with 13 seats, could play a crucial role in forming a coalition government. The party’s leader, Ivan Penava, has made it clear that they will not form a coalition with ideological opponents on the left or ethnic Serb legislators.
The election campaign was marked by a bitter personal rivalry between Prime Minister Plenkovic and President Zoran Milanovic, with both trading insults throughout. Despite their efforts, voters gravitated towards parties on the political flanks, giving the populist Homeland Movement a potential kingmaker role.
The outcome of the election signals a new era of political uncertainty in Croatia, which has been dominated by the HDZ since declaring independence from Yugoslavia in 1991. Pressure from the European Union to adopt certain policies has led to a rise in support for far-right and far-left parties across Europe, including in Croatia.
As talks begin to form a new government, all eyes are on the potential alliances that will shape the future of Croatian politics. With the far-right Homeland Movement holding a key position, the political landscape in Croatia is set for a significant shift.
