Interesting times on Hvar for island politics.
The recent local elections for the four island mayors produced two clear winners in the first round for incumbent mayors of Sucuraj (with a narrow margin of 2%) and a whopping vote of approval for Jelsa’s mayor, who won 57% of the vote in the first round, far ahead of the 29% of his closest rival.
In Hvar Town, things went to the second round, where independent Riki Novak emerged victorious, winning in the second round against the sitting mayor, and immediately inherited a portfolio dominated by British tabloid reporting of the party culture dominating the town.
Meanwhile in Stari Grad…
The only location in the country where the election was tied – 721 versus 721 – the two candidates, HDZ’s Mihaela Petric and independent Antonio Skarpa went for a third round today. And with a much higher turnout, around 70%, there was a clear winner, with Skarpa winning the election by 17 voted, 863 to 846.
Two independent mayors have thus replaced one each from the main parties, SDP and HDZ.
