President Ivo Josipovic shortly after midnight on Sunday congratulated the winners of Croatia's parliamentary election and all participants in the polls, saying he expected to cooperate better with the centre-left bloc led by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) than he did with the outgoing government led by Jadranka Kosor of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ).
"I expect cooperation to be better than it has been so far," Josipovic said in his address to the press after the State Election Commission (DIP) released partial results of the vote.
"I am an optimist and always expect better," the president said when asked if he expected a better cooperation with SDP leader Zoran Milanovic, the likeliest new prime minister.
Josipovic thanked Kosor and her government for cooperation, which he said had its "ups and downs", adding that he would remember only the good moments.
Asked to comment on Kosor having failed to congratulate the election winner, the president said: "I would always congratulate, Mrs. Kosor probably had her own reasons."
Asked when he would give the mandate to Milanovic to form a new government, Josipovic said that it depended on the final results of the vote.
"If the coalition has secured a majority, it will happen soon. If not, consultations will be held," Josipovic said.
He urged the new cabinet to start dealing, without delay, with accumulated problems, adding that it could count on his assistance.
Apart from the winners, Josipovic also congratulated those who have won seats in the seventh parliament and those who have not.
"These elections have shown than Croatia is a mature democracy," he added.
