Small Towns Outperform Big Cities in Croatian Local Elections: A Surprising Turnout

In the 2025 Croatian local elections, smaller towns unexpectedly outperformed major cities in voter turnout. Gospić, a smaller town, recorded a 54% turnout, significantly higher than the 33% seen in larger cities like Zagreb and Split. This disparity is highlighted in a recent RTL Direkt video, which features interviews with citizens. One resident of Zagreb, Josipa, commented, "Honestly, it's all the same. There's no authenticity anymore; it's all the same." This sentiment suggests a possible explanation for the lower turnout in larger urban areas. The video also highlights even higher turnout rates in other smaller towns, such as 72% in Rakovec and 78% in Sućuraj. This unexpected result underscores the importance of local engagement in the democratic process.