In the first round of voting, no candidate received the majority of votes.
Davor Bernardić has won convincing the first round of elections for SDP president on Saturday. In the second round, which will take place next Saturday, he will face the second-ranked Ranko Ostojić. According to results with 91 percent of votes counted, which were announced by the party Central Election Commission, Bernardić won 46 percent of the vote, while Ostojić won 23 percent. Orsat Miljenić won 17 percent and Tonino Picula won just 11 percent of votes, while other candidates won around 1 percent. The turnout was slightly lower than 50 percent, reports Jutarnji List on November 20, 2016.
With these results, Bernardić became a big favourite to become the next SDP president and leader of the opposition, not just because he won convincingly in the first round, but also because after the results were announced he received support from Tonino Picula, who said that he hoped he would cooperate better with the new leadership than with the previous one. Orsat Miljenić did not support anyone. He said that his party role in the future would be a member of Parliament focusing on judiciary.
“Today, SDP has won. I am proud and happy, and I would like to thank all members who have voted, especially those who have given me their trust and support. We have shown that we are a big party and that we can fight with dignity for SDP and Croatia. You can be sure that SDP needs all my opponents as well. We will find a way to include you in the party activities. In a society of reducing equality, we will struggle for a society of equal opportunities”, said Bernardić.
Ranko Ostojić said he was not giving up. “Comrades, thank you for a fair fight. I congratulate all candidates because we were able to save the dignity of SDP. I congratulate Davor Bernardić, but we will win because I never give up. At this moment, SDP has won and I am sure that we will win next Saturday and then we will be able to give a victory speech”, said Ostojić.
Zlatko Komadina, the Prefect of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County and one of the most important supporters of Bernardić, said last night that Bernardić should not be a candidate for Zagreb Mayor if he wins the second round of voting. According to the polls, Bernardić does not have much chance of winning the mayoral elections in Zagreb next year.
Approximately 37,000 SDP members had the opportunity to vote for the successor of outgoing president Zoran Milanović, who has led the party since 2007. After the election of new president next Saturday, on 3 December a party conference will take place where delegates will elect 15 members of party Presidency, 4 deputy party presidents, and 101 members of the party Main Committee.
