Croatia has gone to the polls to choose a government for the second time in less than a year.<br /><br /> Experts are predicting a close result and the possibility of another coalition that lacks a clear mandate to push through the painful cuts and restructuring being urged by European authorities.<br /><br /> Croatia holds a snap election on Sunday. Here’s what you need to know https://t.co/LAgauYgoZG pic.twitter.com/cWHwrBHTNg— Bloomberg (@business) September 10, 2016<br /><br /> #Croatia votes in snap election, new coalition cabinet loominghttps://t.co/OOhgTiqvKe pic.twitter.com/cbwCPqWvxs— Yeni Şafak English (@yenisafakEN) September 11, 2016<br /><br /> The practical details<br /><br /> Almost 7,000 polling stations opened at 7 am local time on Sunday and will close at 7 pm.<br /><br /> Preliminary official results are expected around 10 pm but exit polls after voting closes may prove to be a good indicator.<br /><br /> The politics<br /><br /> A Social Democrat-led four-party alliance stands to win about 60 of 151 seats in a fragmented parliament.<br /><br /> Polls suggest its conservative rival, the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) should be a few seats behind.<br /><br /> Under former Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic, the SDP hopes to wrest control from the short-lived technocratic government.<br /><br /> But the HDZ hopes a new leader, European Parliamentarian Andrej Plenkovic, can make up lost ground and renew the coalition.<br /><br /> A close result will leave both parties seeking support from the centre-right Most (Bridge) party.<br /><br /> Most was also the king-maker after last November’s elections and wants to end the 20-year dominance of the big parties it accuses of clientelism and corruption.<br /><br /> What is a “king-maker”? find out here<br /><br /> What happened to Croatia’s last government?<br /><br /> The previous HDZ/Most centre-right coalition collapsed after just five months.<br /><br /> There had been rows over political appointments, public administration reforms and a conflict of interest case.<br /><br /> Croatia’s challenges<br /><br /> The next government faces the enormous task of revitalising one of the EU’s weakest economies.<br /><br /> Observers say Croatia is dominated by state enterprises and excessive red tape is deterring private investment.<br /><br /> What they are saying<br /><br /> “Most of our politicians are not really interested in the economy. Now we have some growth and a lower budget deficit, there is a risk that reforms will remain tepid,” – unnamed economic official.<br /><br /> “Our current growth potential is 1.5 to 2.5 percent but we need at least 3.5 percent to 4.0 percent,” – Raiffeisen analyst Zrinka Zivkovic Matijevic.<br />
