Opposition parties have won a decisive victory in the Croatian general election, the first since the death of President Franjo Tudjman. A coalition is to be formed by the Social Democrat and Social Liberal parties, who claim the result is a pro-European one, and a mandate for change. The man expected to become the next Prime Minister of Croatia, Ivica Racan has said he wants to strengthen both Croatia's economy and its ties with Europe. Both the US and the OSCE have welcomed the result. The European Union promised help to foster democracy in the former Yugoslav republic.
The former-communist Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Croatian Social-Liberal Party (HSLS) topped nine of the country’s eleven constituencies. Ivica Racan the ex-communist head of the SDP is likely to be the next prime minister. "We know that it will be difficult for us, but now we have to justify the confidence," Mr Racan said after the announcement of the first results. One of the main problems facing the new government is unemployment, which in December reached a record 20.2 per cent, according to official figures. The country's presidential Elections are scheduled to take place at the end of the month.
