Croatian Local Elections (2025)

The 2025 Croatian Local Elections were a two-round electoral process held to determine mayors, municipal council members, county administrators, and other local government officials nationwide. The first round took place on 18 May 2025 and the second round on 1 June 2025. As a result of the elections, the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) and its coalition partners secured majorities in most local administrations.

Election Calendar and Participation Data

The local elections, organized by the State Election Commission, were held in the first round on 18 May 2025. Voting occurred across all local units in the country, including 428 municipalities, 127 cities, and 21 counties. Nearly 3.5 million registered voters were invited to the polls, and more than 31,000 candidates competed. The second round of voting was conducted on 1 June 2025 in electoral districts where no candidate achieved a sufficient majority in the first round.

HDZ’s Overall Performance and Comprehensive Results

The ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) won 280 out of 576 local and regional administrative units nationwide, securing control over 48.6 percent of all such bodies. This represents an increase of 12 units compared to the 2021 elections. The party directly won 15 counties, while the remaining six were won by other parties or coalitions. HDZ also achieved victories in 61 cities (an increase of 5 compared to the previous elections) and 204 municipalities (an increase of 7).

Zagreb and Split Elections

In Zagreb, incumbent mayor Tomislav Tomašević, supported by Možemo! and SDP, was re-elected in the second round, defeating his rival Marija Selak Raspudić by approximately 34,000 votes. Selak Raspudić’s list won seven seats in the Zagreb City Assembly. Tomašević began his second term, while Selak Raspudić announced her intention to assume the role of opposition leader.

In Split, HDZ candidate Tomislav Šuta won the election. In the second round, Šuta received 30,586 votes, defeating incumbent mayor Ivica Puljak (Centar), who received 26,921 votes. Puljak announced after the election that he would retire from politics and return to academic life. Šuta stated that during his new term he would seek cooperation with the central government and regional authorities to promote the city’s development.

Results in Other Major Cities and Regions

• Vukovar: Marijan Pavliček (Sovereignists) was elected mayor with 4,139 votes; Domagoj Bilić of Domovinski Pokret received 3,955 votes.
• Rijeka: Independent candidate Iva Rinčić was elected mayor. She stated that her campaign was built on positive messaging.
• Pula: Peđa Grbin (SDP) was elected mayor with 9,026 votes; his opponent Filip Zoričić received 7,911 votes.
• Slavonski Brod: Mirko Duspara (independent) was re-elected for a seventh term.
• Zadar: HDZ candidate Šime Erlić led the race.
• Dubrovnik: HDZ and coalition candidate Mato Franković was re-elected.

County Elections and Detailed Results

According to data from the State Election Commission (DIP), no county changed its leading candidate between the first and second rounds. HDZ won county presidencies in 15 counties, and in one county an independent candidate supported by HDZ emerged victorious. SDP achieved success in four counties, an increase of two compared to the 2021 elections. In one county, an independent candidate nominated by a voter group won.

In some counties, the vote margins were narrow:

• Varaždin County: HDZ’s Anđelo Stričak defeated SDP’s Bruno Ister by only 96 votes (24,535 to 24,439).
• Koprivničko-Križevačka County: Tomislav Golubić defeated HDZ’s former prefect Darko Koren by 3,168 votes (16,868 to 13,700).
• Istria County: Boris Miletić won with 26,705 votes, defeating Sanja Radolović by a margin of 467 votes.
• Zagrebačka County: Stjepan Kožić received 30,275 votes and retained his position.

In addition:

• Splitsko-Dalmatinska: Blaženko Boban (HDZ, DP, HSP AS) was re-elected as prefect with 73,638 votes.
• Primorsko-Goranska: Ivica Lukanović (SDP and partners) became the new prefect with 38,052 votes.
• Šibensko-Kninska: Paško Rakić (HDZ and partners) was elected with 16,090 votes.
• Vukovarsko-Srijemska: Ivan Bosančić (HDZ and partners) received 20,994 votes.
• Brodsko-Posavska: Danijela Marušić (HDZ) was re-elected with 19,803 votes.
• Dubrovačko-Neretvanska: Blaž Pezo (HDZ and coalition) won with 23,129 votes.
• Ličko-Senjska: Ernest Petry (HDZ and partners) was leading with 10,079 votes after 98 percent of votes were counted.
• Zadarska: Josip Bilaver (HDZ and coalition) was elected with 26,781 votes.