Conservative wins Croatia presidential vote by slight margin

ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — Authorities in Croatia say a conservative populist has become the nation's first female president after she beat the center-left incumbent in a runoff election amid deep discontent over economic woes in the European Union's newest member.

The state electoral commission says that after about 97 percent of the vote counted, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic won 50.54 of the vote Sunday, while President Ivo Josipovic had 49.46 percent.