Croatian President Zoran Milanović, a vocal critic of Western military support for Ukraine, is expected to win the country’s presidential election on Sunday. The first round of voting, held on December 29, saw Milanović secure 49.7% of the vote, narrowly missing out on an outright victory.
A long-time leader of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Milanović has been a fierce critic of Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and his Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) party. His shift to the right in recent years has led to clashes with the HDZ, which has become a hallmark of Croatia’s politics.
Milanović’s opponent, Dragan Primorac, is a paediatrician and university professor who has been absent from politics since 2009. Despite attempting to portray himself as a unifier and pro-Western figure, Primorac’s presidency bid has been marred by corruption allegations involving the Health Minister.
The turnout in the first round was low, at 46%, making it the lowest of any presidential election in 15 years. The run-off between Milanović and Primorac is set to take place next week, with the outcome being seen as a crucial test for Croatia’s democratic institutions.
Source: https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/01/11/first-foot-and-mouth-disease-outbreak-in-germany-for-35-years