Voters in Croatia cast ballots in a tight presidential election, with the ruling conservatives seeking to keep their grip on power days before the country takes over the European Union's presidency for the first time.
In this Thursday, Dec.19, 2019 photo, a cyclist rides past a poster of presidential candidate Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic in Zagreb, Croatia. The European Union's newest member state Croatia is holding a tight presidential election this weekend, only days before it takes over the EU presidency for the first time.
Some 3.8 million voters in the EU’s newest member are picking among 11 candidates, but only three are considered to be the front-runners. Although the post is largely ceremonial in Croatia — the president formally commands the army and represents the country abroad — keeping the presidency is important for the ruling Croatian Democratic Union party as its government is set to assume the EU chairmanship on Jan. 1. That job will include overseeing Britain’s departure from the bloc, expected on Jan. 31, and the start of post-Brexit trade talks.
Grabar Kitarovic had started off stronger than other candidates but her position has weakened after a series of gaffes during the campaign. She is still believed to have a slight lead going into the election, followed closely by Milanovic.Although Croatia has recovered since the devastating 1991-95 war that followed the breakup of former Yugoslavia, it still has one of the poorest economies in the EU and corruption is believed to be widespread.
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