CROATIA’S ruling conservatives have scored a clear victory in parliamentary elections, but they will still need far-right support to stay in power.

With over 90 per cent of the ballots counted, the state electoral commission said on Wednesday evening that the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) had won 60 of the parliament’s 151 seats and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) gained 42. The far-right Statehood Movement came third, with 14 seats, giving it a pivotal role in coalition talks.

“Starting tomorrow morning, we will start forming a new parliamentary majority in order to form our third government,” Mr Plenkovic said in his victory speech.