Croatian opposition Social Democrat candidate Ivo Josipovic will face Zagreb mayor Milan Bandic in a January 10th presidential run-off that will determine who leads the Balkan nation into the European Union.
None of 12 candidates in yesterday’s first round won the majority needed for an outright victory, according to the electoral commission in Zagreb.
Mr Josipovic (52), a law professor, took 32.4 per cent, while Mr Bandic, an independent, garnered 14.8 per cent, the commission said.
The new head of state will succeed Croatian president Stipe Mesic, who is completing his second five-year term in the largely ceremonial office and is barred from running again.
The former Yugoslav nation of 4.4 million aims to become the 28th member of the EU in 2012 and is set to complete negotiations with the bloc next year.
Corruption and the effect of a recession, which marked the election campaign, are likely to dominate the debate.
– (Bloomberg)