Nationalist support surges in Croatia elections

In a serious blow to Croatia’s new, pro-Western Government, the nationalist party of the late President Franjo Tudjman did much better than expected in yesterday’s local elections, leading in several counties and finishing second in Zagreb, the capital.

Partial results for 12 out of 21 counties, released by the state electoral commission late last night, showed Tudjman’s party leading in eight of them.