"I expect the formation of a parliamentary majority, after that of the government, and after that I expect very hard work, work on reforms, work on overcoming the economic crisis," Josipovic told the press at his office.

He was speaking before the release of exit poll results. As announced previously, he will comment on the election results at a news conference after midnight, after the State Election Commission releases them officially.

Asked to comment on the turnout, Josipovic said it was somewhat lower than at the 2007 parliamentary election but in accordance with standards in democratic countries.

HDZ official says exit polls in previous elections were unreliable too

Commenting on the results of exit polls, which showed that the centre-left coalition led by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has won 83 seats in the seventh Croatian parliament in Sunday's vote, while the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) has won 40 seats, HDZ secretary-general Branko Bacic has said that exit polls had proved unreliable four years ago as well.

"The results that were eventually released by the State Election Commission were significantly above the exit polls," Bacic said at the HDZ election headquarters in the building housing the offices of the Croatian Association of Artists.

Bacic said that the circumstances in which the HDZ had operated over the past year, notably the last six months, had been the most difficult since the HDZ started participating in elections, whether presidential, parliamentary or local ones.

"We were subjected to a cannonade of media attacks and were not given the possibility to deny or dismiss what was written against the party and some party officials," Bacic said, noting that one should wait to see the final election results.

Bacic said he expected the HDZ to win far more than 40 seats.

Shortly before 1900 hours, senior HDZ officials started arriving at the party headquarters, including Vladimir Seks, Gordan Jandrokovic and Domagoj Milosevic.

Vladimir Seks said that the HDZ party did not deem exit polls to be credible while commenting on exit polls showing the centre-left coalition led by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has won 83 seats in the seventh Croatian parliament compared to 40 by the HDZ.

In the event that exit polls prove to be correct, the HDZ will know how to cope with that, he said.

Seks said at the HDZ election headquarters that his party had been exposed to "barrage fire" from all media over the recent months.

In comment on reporters' questions whether the HDZ could reduce the margin and come close to the SDP-led coalition, Seks said that in 2007 the exit polls also predicted a 10-percent win for the SDP but the results eventually turned in favour of the HDZ.

"Let's wait for the final results," Seks said.

Around 200 reporters obtained accreditation to follow election results at the HDZ headquarters.

Labour Party: We're happy, but not euphoric

The Croatian Labour Party has won six parliamentary seats in Sunday's election, according to exit polls.

"It's an excellent result, but we're not euphoric. Let's wait for official results at midnight," Labour Party vice-president Branko Vuksic told reporters at the party's election headquarters in Zagreb.

The Labour Party was established less than two years ago and is the youngest political party to enter Parliament.

Ruza Tomasic's HSP expects at least two seats in Parliament

The Croatian Party of Rights (HSP) Dr Ante Starcevic won one parliamentary seat in Sunday's vote, exit polls showed after the closure of polling stations at 1900 hours.

The party's leader, Ruza Tomasic, said she expected at least one more seat after the final count of ballots.

HDSSB leader pleased with exit poll results

Croatian Democratic Alliance of Slavonia and Baranja (HDSSB) president Vladimir Sisljagic said on Sunday he was pleased with exit poll results showing that this party had won six seats in parliament, but added that one should wait for the first election results.

Asked if he expected to win more seats, Sisljagic said the HDSSB "has been saying that each additional seat to the four the party had in (the previous) parliament is a big success."

According to the first exit polls, the HDSSB has won four seats in Constituency No. 4 and two in No. 5.

HSS expects more seats than signalled by exit polls

Croatian Peasant Party (HSS) vice president Bozidar Pankretic said on Sunday evening that he believed that this party would eventually win more seats in the seventh parliament than showed by the first exit polls which signalled that this parliamentary party secured two seats.

Speaking to reporters at the HSS election headquarters in Zagreb after the closure of polling stations, Pankretic said that exit polls at the previous parliamentary election in 2007 also predicted a poor result for the HSS, which finally won six seats.

Ivan Grubisic pleased with two seats won

Father Ivan Grubisic said on Sunday evening he was pleased that his independent slate had won two parliamentary seats in today's election, as shown by exit polls.

"These are exit polls, and according to them we have won two seats, which is very good. We are waiting for final results, but even these two seats are a success," Grubisic told reporters, thanking all voters who had cast their ballots for his slate.

HGS leader says election winner should be congratulated

Commenting on the results of exit polls on Sunday evening, Croatian Civic Party (HGS) leader Zeljko Kerum said he would have been happier if he had accomplished a better result with his coalition partner the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), but that the Social Democratic Party-led coalition should be congratulated because its victory reflected the will of the people.

"I believe that the HGS-HDZ coalition will win both in Constituency No. 9 and Constituency No. 10, but I can't be happy because my coalition partner has not achieved similar results in all constituencies," said Kerum.

He said that he expected the election results to be released by the State Election Commission to differ from exit polls and that the HGS-HDZ coalition could have 50 seats in the parliament.

"My party stays in the coalition with the HDZ and we will be in the opposition," Kerum said.

HSP says is doing well in 3 constituencies

Croatian Party of Rights (HSP) president Daniel Srb, commenting on the State Election Commission's (DIP) latest preliminary report, said on Sunday night that despite the poor exit polls and first incomplete election results, he still expected the HSP might win three seats in the new parliament.

"According to our reports from the field, we are doing well in constituencies nos. 4, 5 and 6 as well as in the diaspora, so we are still optimistic about maybe winning three seats in parliament, which means having a parliamentary group," Srb said.

Asked by the press if the HSP's expectations had dropped after the first DIP report, Srb said later DIP reports would show he was right.

President expects new government to stick to its constitutional powers

President Ivo Josipovic said on Sunday evening that consultations on the formation of a new government would begin after the announcement of final official results of today's vote, adding that he expected the new government to stick to its constitutional powers in its relations with the President of the Republic.

"The Constitution defines the powers of the President and those of the Government. I will stick to my powers and am certain that the new government will stick to its," Josipovic told reporters in his Office where he was following the election process.

The President would not comment on the results of exit polls which put the centre-left coalition headed by the Social Democratic Party in the lead. He said he would do so after the State Election Commission released its report at midnight.

When asked if Croatia "has turned red" after all, Josipovic said that ideological divisions were no longer a matter of debate in the country. "Croatia is a country with different democratic options and all colours are legitimate," he added.

Josipovic said he would certainly congratulate the election winners, but not by visiting their election headquarters "because there's no need for that."

Lesar says Labour Party alternative to two political blocs

The leader of the Croatian Labour Party, Dragutin Lesar, said on Sunday night that the party had established itself as an opposition party and that it was a "political alternative to the two political blocs."

Lesar added that in the next parliamentary election, in four years' time, it would not be possible to form a government without the Labour Party.

Asked if he was interested in heading a government ministry, Lesar said that he would not be at the helm of any ministry because it had been agreed so. He added that he did not talk tonight to any other political party nor did he intend to.

Asked if his party supported Croatia's accession to the EU, Lesar said that once the accession treaty was analysed, which was expected to happen by December 15, the party would make its final decision and tell citizens what to do in a referendum on EU entry.

Ex-president expresses support to SDP-led coalition

Croatia's former president Stjepan Mesic visited the election headquarters of the four-party coalition led by the Social Democratic Party, also known as the Kukuriku coalition, where he expressed his belief that this bloc would retain a convincing advantage over the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) and would have a majority in the 151-seat seventh parliament.

Asked whether his arrival at the Kukuriku headquarters signalled his clear support for that coalition, he said that it was not questionable, adding that as president of the republic, he used to say that he had been the president of all citizens "but I, certainly, was not the president of all political options."

He said that the new government must be ready to carry out tough measures because Croatia was in a difficult financial and economic crisis with a high unemployment rate.