Croatia’s ruling conservatives says that talks are already underway on the formation of a new governing majority following a highly contested parliamentary election that saw a far-right party emerge as a potential kingmaker.

Croatia is voting in a parliamentary election after a campaign that centered on a bitter rivalry between the president and prime minister of the small European Union and NATO member

Croatian Democratic Union and second-placed Social Democratic party both hoping to form government

The ballot pits Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic and the Croatian Democratic Union against President Zoran Milanovic and his Social Democratic Party.

Croatia's long-dominant ruling HDZ party prepared on Thursday for difficult talks to form a coalition after winning Wednesday's parliamentary election without a majority, and with a far-right party as potential kingmakers.