Croatia’s presidential race: Milanović leads in pivotal showdown
In the first round of the presidential elections in Croatia, Zoran Milanović, often referred to as the "Croatian Trump," received the highest percentage of votes at 49.1%. Milanović, the incumbent president, will face Dragon Primorac, the candidate from the ruling party, in the second round.
According to results from 99.9% of the electoral commissions, Zoran Milanović secured 49.1% of the votes. Dragon Primorac took second place with 19.41% of the votes. Both candidates will face off in the decisive round on Sunday, January 12.
Milanović, the current president seeking re-election, stated in a speech yesterday that he promises to shape "a Croatia that takes care of its interests and understands that only we can manage what happens in our country."
"During his five-year term that expires on Feb. 18, Milanovic, a former prime minister, has clashed with Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic over foreign and public policy and has fiercely criticised the European Union and NATO over their support for Ukraine," writes Reuters. Although he contributed to Croatia's accession to the EU as prime minister and was regarded as a progressive politician, his recent populist rhetoric and pro-Kremlin stance have earned him the nickname "Croatian Trump."
Whom will Milanović face in the second round?
Dragon Primorac is a candidate from HDZ, the centre-right ruling party in Croatia, led by Andrej Plenković. "Croatian experts believe that his victory would align the president's stance with the government's policy" reports TVN 24. However, Ivan Grdešić, a political science professor at the University of Zagreb, believes that Primorac "is not charismatic enough" to have a larger appeal to people."
Croatian citizens, though, have more reasons to be wary of the HDZ candidate. For example, the candidate was involved in the scandal surrounding Health Minister Vili Beroš, who was arrested on corruption charges. He is among 30 ministers who lost their positions due to similar accusations.
Third election in Croatia this year
In third place was independent candidate Marija Selak Raspudić, who received 9.24% of the votes, followed by Ivana Kekin from the left-wing party We Can! with 8.86% of the votes. Other candidates received the following number of votes: independent Tomislav Jonjić - 5.06%, right-wing Most candidate Miro Bulj - 3.82%, Branka Lozo from the Home and National Assembly - 2.41%, and independent Niko Tokić Kartelo - 0.88%.
The role of the president of Croatia is mainly symbolic. While the president cannot veto laws, they do have an impact on foreign policy and matters of defense and security.
"Sunday’s presidential election was Croatia’s third vote this year, following a snap parliamentary election in April and the European Parliament election in June," recalls Politico.
