Milan Bandic, a nonparty candidate, remains Zagreb Mayor, and Vojko Obersnel of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) remains at the helm of the seaport of Rijeka, while Split is likely to be led by SDP Ivo Baldasar and the eastern city of Osijek by Ivica Vrkic, supported by the SDP and the Croatian People's Party (HNS), according to the returns from 10% of the polling stations which were opened in those cities for the local elections' runoff held on Sunday from 7 am to 7 pm.
According to the preliminary results released by the State Election Commission at 2000 hrs, Bandic is on a strong lead with 60.6 % while the SDP mayoral candidate in Zagreb, Rajko Ostojic, has currently 37.3% of the vote.
In Rijeka, Obersnel is the winner with 68.11% while his rival in the runoff Hrvoje Buric of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) has so far mustered 29.6%.
In Osijek, Vrkic is on a lead with 52.3% while the current mayor Kresimir Bubalo of the regional Croatian Democratic Party of Slavonia and Baranja (HDSSB) has now 45.3%
In Split, SDP candidate Ivo Baldasar has 54.3% while HDZ candidate Vjekoslav Ivanisevic has 43%. Baldasar and Ivanisevic defeated the outgoing mayor Zeljko Kerum in the first round of the vote on 19 May.
