The Croatian opposition candidate, Ivo Jocipovic, is leading in the country’s fifth presidential elections, according to exit polls.

Political experts say Jocipovic’s lead is due to his firm promise to fight corruption and his untainted reputation, but many believe he lacks the charisma of the big politician.

Ivo Josipovic, a Social Democrat, law professor and composer, has 32,7% of votes, according to exit polls on Nova TV, on a sample of 10,000 voters. He is likely to compete with his former party colleague, Zagreb mayor Milan Bandic, who received 14,1% of votes as an independent candidate.

Both candidates support Croatia’s much anticipated EU accession.

If nothing changes when official results are announced, a second round will take place on January 10 because the electoral system in Croatia requires for the winner to receive 50% of the vote plus one.

Electoral activity has been low. Only about 34% of eligible voters had gone to the polls at 5 pm, according to Croatia’s Central Electoral Committee.