Croatian conservatives win general election, but without enough votes to rule alone

Opposition leader Tomislav Karamarko celebrates his coalition's winning of majority of votes, in Zagreb, Croatia, early Monday, Nov. 9, 2015. Croatia's conservative opposition is leading in an official preliminary vote count against the ruling center-left coalition in the Balkan country's first parliamentary election since joining the European Union in 2013. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic) (The Associated Press)

Croatia's conservative opposition has won the Balkan country's first parliamentary election since joining the European Union in 2013, but without enough votes to rule alone.

The state electoral commission said Monday that with 99 percent of the vote counted, the conservatives, led by former intelligence chief Tomislav Karamarko, won 59 seats in the 151-seat parliament. The ruling Social Democrats, led by incumbent Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic, got 56 seats.

The result means both blocs have failed to win an outright majority and the forming of the new government will depend on several small parties that entered parliament. The kingmaker will be the third-placed party, Most, or Bridge, with 19 seats.

The election Sunday was held amid a huge migrant surge through Croatia and deep economic woes facing the country.

https://www.foxnews.com/world/croatian-conservatives-win-general-election-but-without-enough-votes-to-rule-alone