(VOVworld) – Opposition challenger Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic has become the first female president of Croatia for the next 5 years, winning by the narrowest of margins.

Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic is a former foreign minister and member of the centre-right opposition HDZ party. (Photo: AFP)

She secured 50.42% of the vote with 99.42% of ballots counted, beating out incumbent Ivo Josipovic. After her victory, Grabar-Kitarovic promised to turn Croatia into one of the most prosperous countries in the EU, strengthen national defense, and fight corruption. She said she will restore Croatia’s relationship with Germany. Ms Grabar-Kitarovic is a politically conservative member of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ).