SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Croatian government has announced the first round of presidential elections will be held on December 28.
Members of Parliament accepted a proposal from Minister of Public Administration Arsen Bauk on Thursday for the poll date.
The decision will be formally ratified on Nov. 24, after which candidates will have 12 days to register for the vote.
Although no official candidates have been declared, Croatian media reported Josipovic, who is supported by the Social Democratic Party (SDP), will run for office again and be the most powerful candidate.
Croatian Democratic Union Party candidate Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic is expected to be a powerful rival to Josipovic, according to reports.
The President of the Croatian Dawn Pary (HZ) Milan Kujundzic and independent Ivan Grubisic are also expected to run as candidates.
Candidates are required to collect signatures from 10,000 citizens to be eligible for election to the office, which runs for five years.
The term of office of incumbent Croatian president Ivo Josipovic will end on Feb. 18, 2015.
www.aa.com.tr/en
