Liberal incumbent faces conservative in close Croatian presidential election runoff election

A voter casts his ballot at a polling station in Zagreb, Croatia, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015. A liberal incumbent and a conservative rival are heading into a surprisingly close showdown in Croatia's presidential runoff held amid deep discontent over economic woes in the European Union's newest member. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic) (The Associated Press)

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Voters cast their ballots at a polling station in Zagreb, Croatia, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015. A liberal incumbent and a conservative rival are heading into a surprisingly close showdown in Croatia's presidential runoff held amid deep discontent over economic woes in the European Union's newest member. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic) (The Associated Press)

Incumbent Ivo Josipovic casts his ballot at a polling station in Zagreb, Croatia, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015. A liberal incumbent and a conservative rival are heading into a surprisingly close showdown in Croatia's presidential runoff held amid deep discontent over economic woes in the European Union's newest member. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic) (The Associated Press)

ZAGREB, Croatia – A liberal incumbent faces a tough challenge from a conservative rival in Croatia's presidential runoff election that is held amid deep discontent over economic woes in the European Union's newest member.

The Sunday vote is seen as a major test for Croatia's center-left government, which is facing parliamentary elections this year under a cloud of criticism over its handling of the crisis. A conservative triumph could shift Croatia back to right-wing nationalism, jeopardizing relations with its bitter Balkan wartime rival Serbia.

The vote is expected to be close. In the first round two weeks ago current President Ivo Josipovic won 38.5 percent of the vote, just edging Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic with 37.2 percent. The runoff was called because neither candidate captured over 50 percent needed to win outright.