Grabar-Kitarovic elected Croatia's first woman president

Opposition challenger Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic has become the first female president of Croatia, winning by the narrowest of margins.

She secured 50.5% of the vote with 99% of ballots counted, while incumbent Ivo Josipovic was close behind on 49.5%.

Mr Josipovic has conceded defeat and congratulated his opponent.

The challenger's win is a sign that Croatia may be shifting to the right after the centre-left coalition's failure to end six years of downturn.

The election was seen as a key test for the main parties ahead of parliamentary elections expected to be held towards the end of 2015.

The gap between the two candidates remained at about one percentage point throughout much of the second round.

Turnout was 58.9% - some 12% more than in the first round held two weeks ago, which was equally close.

[quote author=The Chairman link=topic=94987.msg609840#msg609840 date=1421026230]

She secured 50.5% of the vote with 99% of ballots counted, while incumbent Ivo Josipovic was close behind on 49.5%.

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The margin isn't vast enough. Her margin should have been much wider. Such a close neck and neck win for the first woman president is not good, because it shows that the mentality of the majority is still patriarchal, and she's not gonna be able to make much of a political difference because the people are unwilling to change.

And I think that America will be the next country have it's first lady president.


I'm voting for Hillary! 

The presidency of Croatia is mostly ceremonial.