Local elections were held in Croatia on Sunday. There were elections for county assemblies as well as large towns where governors are being elected. There will be a second round in two weeks time in many of these latter elections.

The elections were seen as a test for Ivo Sanader’s coalition government. Sanader is from the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ). The HDZ is currently in coalition with the Croatian Peasant Party (HSS), the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS), and the Independent Democratic Serbian Party (SDSS). The main opposition party is the Social Democratic Party (SDP). the next parliamentary election is due in 2010.

The Croatian Electoral Commission has all the results (if your Croatian is up to it). Anyway, the Balkan Insight summary seems to be that the HDZ and its allies have done well in the county assemblies. It has won a majority of seats in 13 or 14 of the 21 counties. The SDP and its allies have won 5 of the counties. The Istrian Democratic Assembly won in Istria. The Croatian Democratic Assembly of Slavonia and Baranja (HDSSB) is just ahead of the HDZ in Osijek-Baranja county.

In the towns, the situation is different. Here, the SDP has done well. It is well ahead in Zagreb and is well placed to win at the second ballot. The HDZ did not make it through to the second ballot in Zagreb. In Rijeka the SDP won outright. In Split an independent came first, the SDP was second and the HDZ was a long way behind and will not contest the second ballot.

The turnout was just over 35%.

Basically, these results allow both the government and the opposition to say that they have done well, or at least they are on course.