Mon Dec 30 07:48:59 UTC 2024: ## Milanovic Heads to Runoff in Tight Croatian Presidential Race
**Zagreb, Croatia** – Incumbent President Zoran Milanovic will face conservative challenger Dragan Primorac in a January 12 runoff election after narrowly missing an outright victory in Sunday’s first round. Milanovic secured 49.1% of the vote, falling short of the 50% needed to avoid a second round, while Primorac garnered 19.35%. Initial exit polls had suggested Milanovic might win outright.
The election, held amidst high inflation, widespread corruption, and a labor shortage, saw a crowded field of eight candidates. While Milanovic, supported by the Social Democrats, is considered a left-wing populist, his criticism of the ruling conservative HDZ party and Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, along with his opposition to Western military aid to Ukraine, has attracted support from across the political spectrum. This has raised serious concerns within the HDZ.
Primorac, campaigning on a platform of unity, family values, and patriotism, acknowledged the significant gap between himself and Milanovic, viewing the runoff as an opportunity to clearly differentiate their positions. Other notable candidates, including centre-right MP Marija Selak Raspudic and green-left MP Ivana Kekin, each received approximately 9% of the vote.
Despite the President’s limited veto power, the election is seen as a referendum on the current government. Prime Minister Plenkovic has framed the election as a choice between Croatia’s continued integration with the EU and NATO and what he terms Milanovic’s “pro-Russian” stance. Milanovic’s combative style and frequent criticism of the government’s handling of corruption have, however, made him a popular figure for many Croatians. The runoff promises a decisive clash between these two powerful political figures.
First Piper 