Croatia’s conservatives win, helped by tougher stance on migration

Preliminary results showed that Croatia’s conservative opposition Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) had narrowly won the general election held on the 8 November 2015 over the ruling Social Democrats (SPD). The third strongest party, and therefore a potential coalition partner, was the new liberal party Most. Commentators predicted lengthy coalition talks between the parties.

A coalition of Croatian conservative parties nominated pharmaceutical executive and technocract Tihomir Oreskovic as the candidate for premiership on the 23 December 2015. The move ended weeks of uncertainty after the November 2015 inconclusive election.

The country's parliament approved the new government on 22 January.

Politico, 09.11.15: 4 takeaways from Croatia’s parliamentary election http://www.politico.eu/article/4-takeaways-from-croatias-parliamentary-election-coalition-hdz-spd-most-zagreb/

The Guardian, 09.11.15: Croatian election: preliminary results show conservative win http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/09/croatian-election-preliminary-results-show-conservative-win

ESO: Background information: Croatian parliamentary election, 2015 http://www.europeansources.info/record/croatian-parliamentary-election-2015/

Politico, 08.11.15: Dead heat in Croatian election — exit poll http://www.politico.eu/article/croatia-election-coalition-exit-polls/

BBC News, 08.11.15: Croatia election: Opposition HDZ conservatives claim victory http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-34758843

EUObserver, 09.11.15: Croatia's conservative opposition wins elections https://euobserver.com/political/131011

Deutsche Welle, 09.11.15: Conservative opposition declares victory in Croatia election http://dw.com/p/1H21v

Euro|Topics: Main Focus, 09.11.15: Conservatives win election in Croatia http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/archiv_dossier/DOSSIER172911-Conservatives-win-election-in-Croatia

Euronews, 09.11.15: Croatia faces lengthy coalition talks after narrow win by HDZ http://www.euronews.com/2015/11/09/croatia-faces-lengthy-coalition-talks-after-narrow-win-by-hdz/

Deutsche Welle, 09.11.15: Tough coalition talks begin in Croatia http://dw.com/p/1H2Pi

EurActiv, 16.12.15: Croatia hopes for new government by Christmas http://www.euractiv.com/sections/elections/croatia-hopes-new-government-christmas-320470

EurActiv, 24.12.15: Croatian president nominates pharmaceutical exec as next PM http://www.euractiv.com/sections/elections/croatian-president-nominates-pharmaceutical-exec-next-pm-320617

Deutsche Welle, 23.12.15: Croatian conservatives nominate pharmaceutical executive as PM-designate http://dw.com/p/1HSb1

Euro|Topics: Debates, 21.01.16: Croatia's new government http://www.eurotopics.net/en/152376/croatia-s-new-government

EUObserver, 25.01.16: [Opinion] Business-minded PM could transform Croatia https://euobserver.com/opinion/131967

EurActiv, 25.01.16: Croatian government sworn in two months after inconclusive election http://www.euractiv.com/sections/elections/croatian-government-sworn-two-months-after-inconclusive-election-321283

Deutsche Welle, 23.01.16: Croatia forms center-right government http://dw.com/p/1Hiho

Balkan Insight, 22.01.16: Croatia's New Cabinet Draws Mixed Response http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/new-croatian-government-brings-a-lot-new-faces-01-22-2016

EUObserver, 27.01.16: [Opinion] Croatia joins EU's illiberal democracy club https://euobserver.com/opinion/132002

European Council: Press Release, 25.01.16: Congratulation letter by President Donald Tusk to the Prime Minister of Croatia Tihomir Orešković http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2016/01/25-tusk-letter-new-pm-croatia/

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