Election silence is in force in Croatia on Saturday and Sunday due to the December 22 election at which 3.855 million voters will choose their president for the next five years among 11 candidates.

Election silence began at 00.00 hours on Saturday and lasts until 7 p.m. on Sunday when polling stations close.

Over the next two days, there is a ban on any electioneering and publication of result estimates, previous unofficial result estimates as well as candidates’ photos, statements and interviews.

In the seventh presidential election since gaining independence, Croatian voters at home and abroad are choosing among the incumbent Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, Nedjeljko Babic, Anto Djapic, Dario Jurican, Mislav Kolakusic, Dejan Kovac, Zoran Milanovic, Dalija Oreskovic, Katarina Peovic, Ivan Pernar and Miroslav Skoro.

The president is elected by 50% plus one vote of all who cast their ballots and if none of the 11 candidates wins such a majority, there will be a runoff on January 5 between the two candidates who win the most votes in the first round.

Record number of observers

A record number of observers (24,270) will oversee the work of electoral committees on Sunday, the State Election Commission said on Friday night. The last presidential election was overseen by about 22,000 observers, the highest number until then.

Observers can oversee the work of electoral committees, municipal and city election commissions as well as the State Election Commission.

A total of 23,963 observers registered to oversee election commissions and electoral committees in Croatia and 290 abroad.

The election can be overseen by observers of the candidates, of the political parties and voters who nominated the candidates, of NGOs and by foreign observers.