Leftist opposition candidate Ivo Josipovic is leading a presidential runoff in Croatia, according to the exit polls announced by local television.
Voting at 6,863 polling stations closed at 19:00 local time (18:00 GMT) on Sunday with first results expected about 23:00 GMT.
The exit polls indicate that Social Democrat Josipovic has won at least 64% of the votes, while his challenger, the incumbent Zagreb Mayor Milan Bandic, received only 35.4% of the ballots.
Josipovic, a 52-year-old law professor and classical music composer, won 32.4% of the votes during the first round of the election on December 27 last year. He failed, however, to gain an outright majority in the first round to win the election.
Both candidates support Croatia's goal to complete talks this year on the country's accession to the European Union and become the bloc's member by 2012.
The winner will succeed incumbent President Stjepan Mesic who steps down on February 18 after serving two five-year terms.
ZAGREB, January 11 (RIA Novosti)
