"We have reason to rejoice because we have truly won. Regardless of various opinions and wise analyses of what happened today, I can say that Croatia has again turned blue in the best sense of the word," Karamarko told the press at HDZ election headquarters in Zagreb, alluding to his party's colour.

Karamarko said that the HDZ won the posts of county prefect in eight counties in the first round of voting and was going to the runoff in seven counties. The HDZ slates for county assemblies were leading 14:7 against the ruling Social Democratic Party (SDP).

"There are also towns where we were not in power and where we are now in the lead -- Vukovar, Djakovo, Slavonski Brod, Pozega, Sibenik, Varazdin and Split, where we have serious candidates and where we will win in the second round," the HDZ leader said.

Karamarko said that this was the HDZ's second victory in the last month and a half, after defeating the SDP in elections for the European Parliament. "We are moving on to another victory," he said, noting that these elections were "a message from the Croatian people to the government."

Karamarko recalled that the HDZ was aiming for a victory in three steps. "We have completed the first two steps and the third one follows," he said, reiterating that he would seek an early parliamentary election in the autumn.