Croatian president Zoran Milanović is set to face off against Dragan Primorac, backed by the prime minister and his government. In the first round held on 29 December, Milanović won 49.7% of the vote, just shy of securing an outright victory.
As a long-time leader of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Milanović was Croatia’s prime minister from 2011 to 2016. He has been a vocal critic of Western military support for Ukraine, which has led to clashes with Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and his Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) party.
In recent years, Milanović has shifted towards the right side of the political spectrum. His bid for re-election is seen as a counterweight to HDZ’s rule. Despite controversy surrounding his own presidency, including blocking Croatia’s NATO training mission in Wiesbaden, he remains the frontrunner.
Primorac, on the other hand, is a paediatrician and university professor who has not been involved in Croatian politics since 2009. His campaign focused on portraying himself as a unifier and pro-Western figure, but was marred by a high-level corruption case involving Health Minister Vili Beroš.
The first round of voting saw a turnout of 46%, the lowest in 15 years. With around 3.5 million eligible voters, Primorac’s performance was deemed poor despite winning 19.6% of the vote. The election’s outcome will determine Croatia’s stance on global disputes and foreign policy under its president.
Milanović is expected to win the re-election but his presidency bid has been complicated by Western military support criticism. The winner will hold significant authority, serving as the supreme commander of the military and playing a key role in foreign policy decisions.
Source: https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/01/11/croatias-trump-like-president-is-favourite-to-win-run-off-election