Croatians voted to fill 151 seats in Parliament, party with majority names next prime minister
Government claims victory despite allegations of electoral irregularities
HDZ party faces strong challenge from populist forces and corruption scandals
Protests against rigged election
In a significant development for Croatia's political landscape, the firebrand populist Aleksandar Vučić has won the chance to steer the country away from a pro-EU and pro-Ukraine path. This comes after several thousand people protested against a rigged election, according to several sources. The government, however, claims victory in the Serbian election despite allegations of electoral irregularities. The HDZ party, which has been in power for 26 out of 32 years since Croatia broke away from Yugoslavia in 1991, is facing a strong challenge from populist forces and is exposed to corruption scandals. The far-right Homeland Movement could end up being a kingmaker if neither HDZ nor the Social Democratic Party wins a majority in Croatia's Parliament. Croatians voted to fill 151 seats in Parliament, and the party with a majority will name the next prime minister. The current prime minister is Andrej Plenkovic, leader of HDZ and rival of Croatia's president, Zoran Milanovic.
HDZ, led by Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, could lose its majority to a Social Democrat-led coalition headed by Zoran Milanović
Milanović announced his challenge last month despite being barred from running due to party-political activities incompatible with the mainly ceremonial office of president
Accuracy
HDZ could lose its majority to a Social Democrat-led coalition headed by Zoran Milanović
HDZ has dominated Croatia's politics since independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, overseeing its accession to the EU and eurozone
Croatia posted economic growth of 2.8% last year, above the EU average
Opposition to corruption and nepotism has grown under Plenković's two terms in office
SDP is projected to win about 44 seats, three more than in 2020
Deception
(30%)
The article contains selective reporting as it only mentions the corruption allegations against Plenković and HDZ without mentioning any similar allegations against Milanović or SDP. It also contains emotional manipulation through the use of phrases like 'bitter war of words', 'far more close-run affair', and 'uncompromising fight against corruption'. The article also implies that Milanović's opposition to further aid for Ukraine is a negative thing, but it does not provide any evidence or context to support this claim.
Polls suggest the conservative Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) of the prime minister, Andrej Plenković, could lose its majority to a Social Democrat-led coalition headed by the populist president, Zoran Milanović.
Milanović has refused to stop campaigning against HDZ, however, promising that his Rivers of Justice coalition, if it emerges victorious from the ballot, will wage an “uncompromising fight against corruption” and raise wages and pensions.
The president, who has said he will step down to become head of government if the Social Democratic party (SDP) wins, also opposes further aid for Ukraine.
Fallacies
(80%)
The author uses inflammatory rhetoric by describing Milanovic as an 'outspoken president' and Plenkovic as a 'longstanding rival.' The author also uses loaded language when describing Milanovic's decision to challenge the election as a 'surprise challenge' and a 'bitter war of words.' Additionally, the author quotes Peja Grbin using inflammatory language when she says that under an SDP government, there won't be 'state theft.'
The outspoken president’s decision shocked the country, sparked a bitter war of words between the two longstanding rivals, and turned a predictable race into a far more close-run affair.
My character is not easy, but I will not remain silent.
When, after 17 April, we get the chance to form a government, Croatia won’t be the same – not only because there won’t be state theft, but because we will take care of the real problems facing our citizens.
Bias
(95%)
The author uses language that depicts one side (Zoran Milanovic) as extreme or unreasonable by calling him a 'populist president' and describing his campaigning against HDZ as an 'uncompromising fight against corruption'. The author also mentions Milanovic's refusal to stop campaigning despite being barred from running for office, and quotes Milanovic referring to the judges as 'peasants' and their judgment as 'illiterate'. These examples demonstrate a clear bias against Zoran Milanovic.
