Croatia's ruling party wins most seats in parliamentary elections: exit polls

A man casts his ballot at a polling station during the parliamentary elections in Zagreb, Croatia, on July 5, 2020. The ruling central-right Croatian Democratic Union(HDZ), led by Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, streaked ahead in the parliamentary elections Sunday with 61 seats secured, according to the exit polls. (Dusko Jaramaz/Pixsell via Xinhua)

ZAGREB, July 5 (Xinhua) -- The ruling central-right Croatian Democratic Union(HDZ), led by Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, streaked ahead in the parliamentary elections Sunday with 61 seats secured, according to the exit polls.

The center-left Restart Coalition won 44 mandates, while the right-wing Homeland Movement came third with 16 seats.

Croatian voters started casting their ballots in parliamentary elections at 7 a.m. local time (0500 GMT) on Sunday.

The elections are seen as the most challenging in the country's history as the number of new COVID-19 cases hit a record high this week after lockdown measures eased and borders reopened. Voters are advised to attend poll stations with masks and bring their own pencils.

Over 3.8 million eligible voters will elect 151 members of parliament (MPs) by secret ballot to four-year terms.

A woman casts her ballot at a polling station during the parliamentary elections in Zagreb, Croatia, on July 5, 2020. The ruling central-right Croatian Democratic Union(HDZ), led by Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, streaked ahead in the parliamentary elections Sunday with 61 seats secured, according to the exit polls. (Dubravka Petric/Pixsell via Xinhua)

Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandrokovic casts his ballot at a polling station during the parliamentary elections in Zagreb, Croatia, on July 5, 2020. The ruling central-right Croatian Democratic Union(HDZ), led by Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, streaked ahead in the parliamentary elections Sunday with 61 seats secured, according to the exit polls. (Tomilsav Miletic/Pixsell via Xinhua)

Voters wait in a queue at a polling station during the parliamentary elections in Zagreb, Croatia, on July 5, 2020. The ruling central-right Croatian Democratic Union(HDZ), led by Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, streaked ahead in the parliamentary elections Sunday with 61 seats secured, according to the exit polls. (Sanjin Strukic/Pixsell via Xinhua)

Croatian Prime Minister and leader of Croatian Democratic Union Andrej Plenkovic casts his ballot at a polling station during the parliamentary elections in Zagreb, Croatia, on July 5, 2020. The ruling central-right Croatian Democratic Union(HDZ), led by Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, streaked ahead in the parliamentary elections Sunday with 61 seats secured, according to the exit polls. (Igor Kralj/Pixsell via Xinhua)

Former Croatian president Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic casts her ballot at a polling station during the parliamentary elections in Zagreb, Croatia, on July 5, 2020. The ruling central-right Croatian Democratic Union(HDZ), led by Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, streaked ahead in the parliamentary elections Sunday with 61 seats secured, according to the exit polls. (Sandra Simunovic/Pixsell via Xinhua)