The outspoken President of Croatia, Zoran Milanovic, has emerged victorious in the first round of the country’s election, securing over 50% of the votes, according to an exit poll.
Mr. Milanovic, who is supported by the opposition left-wing Social Democrats, received 51.48% of the vote, while Dragan Primorac, representing the ruling conservative HDZ party, finished a distant second with 19.29%, as reported by the exit poll released by state-run HRT television shortly after the polling stations closed.
This election takes place as the European Union and NATO member country of 3.8 million grapples with high inflation, rampant corruption, and a shortage of labor.
Despite Mr. Milanovic being a strong favorite, polls indicated that no candidate was likely to receive the requisite 50% of votes to win outright and avert a runoff scheduled in two weeks.
Among the eight candidates, two female MPs—centre-right MP Marija Selak Raspudic and green-left Ivana Kekin—ranked after the leading two contenders, according to the exit poll.
Each garnered approximately eight percent of the vote.
Balance of Power
The President of Croatia directs the armed forces and influences foreign policy decisions.
Although the role has limited powers, many believe that the presidency holds significant importance for maintaining the political balance of power in a country that has largely been under the governance of the HDZ since its independence in 1991.
“All the eggs should not be in one basket,” stated Nenad Horvat, a salesperson in his 40s, in an interview with AFP.
Dragan Primorac casting his ballot at a polling station in Zagreb
He views Mr. Milanovic, a former leftist prime minister, as the “last barrier preventing all levers of power from falling into the hands of the HDZ,” a sentiment echoed by many.
The 58-year-old Milanovic has been a prominent and colorful figure in Croatian politics for nearly two decades.
Sharp-witted and articulate, he won the presidency for the Social Democrats (SDP) in 2020, making promises to champion tolerance and liberal values.
For many, this election continues the long-standing rivalry between Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic and Zoran Milanovic.
However, he has used his presidential office to criticize political adversaries and EU officials, frequently employing contentious and populist rhetoric.
Despite condemning Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, Mr. Milanovic has expressed concerns over the West’s military support for Kyiv.
This led Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic to accuse him of being pro-Russian and “compromising Croatia’s credibility within NATO and the EU.”
Mr. Milanovic retorted that his aim was to safeguard Croatia from being “drawn into war.”
“As long as I’m president, no Croatian soldier will participate in someone else’s wars,” he asserted earlier this month.
Jure Tomicic, a 35-year-old IT professional from Zagreb, voiced worries regarding the ongoing conflicts.
“As the head of state, we require a leader who will take the situation seriously, rather than making jokes,” he remarked to AFP after casting his ballot.
Mr. Milanovic often criticizes Mr. Plenkovic and his HDZ party over systemic corruption, labeling the Prime Minister as a “serious threat to Croatia’s democracy.”
“I am a guarantee against the corruption ‘octopus’ led by Andrej Plenkovic,” he declared during his campaign.
President-PM Feud
For many, the election represents an extension of the ongoing feud between the two powerful political figures.
“This is fundamentally about the conflict between the Prime Minister and the President,” political analyst Zarko Puhovski told AFP. “All other issues are merely incidental.”
Mr. Primorac, a 59-year-old physician and scientist making a political comeback after a 15-year hiatus, campaigned on a platform of unity, family values, and patriotism.
“Croatia needs unity, global positioning, and a peaceful existence,” he stated to reporters after voting in Zagreb, noting he would attend a mass afterward.
Mr. Primorac continually accused Mr. Milanovic of “bringing disgrace to Croatia,” a claim that resonated with his supporters.
