Opposition Social Democrat Ivo Josipovic has won Croatia's presidential election by a wide margin.
Mr Josipovic won 60.3% of the vote in the second round run-off, beating Milan Bandic, the mayor of Zagreb.
The BBC reports the result was expected, but the margin of victory even larger than polls had predicted.
Mr Josipovic has pledged to lead an "uncompromising fight against corruption" and to help the government complete European Union membership talks this year.
The 52-year-old law professor and classical music composer succeeds Stipe Mesic, who will step down in February after 10 years as president.
Mr Bandic was tarnished by corruption allegations during the campaign.
The BBC reports that as president, Mr Josipovic will have very little say in policy making, but will hope to take the country into the EU by 2012, becoming the bloc's 28th member.
