Croatia’s incumbent President Zoran Milanovic is the clear frontrunner in the runoff presidential vote against a candidate from the ruling conservative party. Milanovic, a left-leaning politician, secured a comfortable victory in the first round of voting on Dec. 29, with his main challenger, Dragan Primorac, trailing far behind along with six other candidates.
The runoff was triggered as Milanovic fell just 5,000 votes short of the required 50% threshold, while Primorac garnered 19% of the vote. The election is taking place amid challenges such as inflation, corruption scandals, and a labor shortage in the country.
Milanovic, known for his critical stance on Western military support for Ukraine, has been a vocal figure in Croatian politics. He has been likened to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump for his confrontational communication style with political opponents.
In his latest remarks, Milanovic criticized the European Union as being 'non-democratic' and run by unelected officials. He expressed a desire to work towards changing the EU's approach, emphasizing the importance of a more inclusive and democratic Europe.
While the presidency in Croatia is largely ceremonial, the elected president wields political authority and serves as the supreme military commander. Milanovic's presidency is seen as crucial for maintaining a balance of power in a country dominated by the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) since independence.
Primorac, Milanovic's opponent, emphasized the significance of the presidential vote for Croatia's future direction. The political landscape in Croatia has been marked by tensions between Milanovic and Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, with both leaders engaging in public disputes over issues such as corruption and international relations.
As the runoff unfolds, observers are closely watching the outcome of the election and its potential implications for Croatia's political landscape and international relations.
