Croats are voting for a government for the second time in less than a year and polls predict a close outcome and another coalition that lacks a clear mandate to push through painful cuts and restructuring being urged by European authorities.
A Social Democrat-led four-party alliance stands to win about 60 of 151 seats in a fragmented parliament, while its conservative rival, the Croatian Democratic Union, should be a few seats behind, polls say.
That would leave them seeking support from the centre-right Most (Bridge) party, also the kingmaker after last November's elections, which wants to end the 20-year dominance of the big parties, which it accuses of clientelism and corruption.
The previous HDZ/Most coalition collapsed after just five months amid rows over political appointments, public administration reforms and a conflict of interest case.
Any government will face an enormous task in revitalising one of the European Union's weakest economies, where state enterprises still dominate and red tape discourages private investment.
