Voting has begun in Croatia's early parliamentary election amid a returning Covid-19 outbreak and with a close result expected between the two leading blocs.
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The coalition led by the opposition Social Democrats (SDP) has been tipped to win the most seats, but the governing conservative Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) may have a stronger potential to find allies.
Tipped to come in third and likely play the kingmaker is former singer Miroslav Skoro with his far-right Homeland Movement, seen as a natural partner for the HDZ.
Several smaller parties are expected to clear the five-per-cent threshold and win some of the 140 seats from 10 electoral units, along with the eight reserved for representatives of ethnic minorities and three for the expatriate voters.
Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic moved the election a few months forward in order to capitalise on what appeared to be a good performance in tackling the Covid-19 epidemic and avoid holding it as the economic fallout arrives in full strength.
Australian Associated Press
