ZAGREB, Croatia — In the runoff presidential elections held on Sunday, Croatia’s incumbent President Zoran Milanovi? emerged as the strong frontrunner against Dragan Primorac, a candidate from the governing conservative party. Milanovi?, who aligns with the left, had a significant lead in the initial voting stage on December 29, comfortably surpassing the competition, including Primorac, who is noted for his previous unsuccessful bid for the presidency, and six other contenders.
Although Milanovi? demonstrated a solid lead, he did not obtain the necessary 50% of the votes, falling short by approximately 5,000 ballots, which led to the competitive runoff, where Primorac garnered only 19% of the vote.
This election occurs amid ongoing challenges in Croatia, a member of both the European Union and NATO, which has a population of about 3.8 million. The country is grappling with significant inflation, a wave of corruption scandals, and a notable shortage in its labor force.
At 58 years old, Milanovi? is a well-known figure in Croatian politics who openly critiques Western military support for Ukraine during its conflict with Russia. He is often regarded as Croatia’s most popular politician and has been compared to the combative communication style of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. Milanovi? previously held the position of prime minister and has a controversial history, often clashing with the current Prime Minister, Andrej Plenkovi?, whom he accuses of systemic corruption, labeling him a “serious threat to Croatia’s democracy.”
Plenkovi?, on the other hand, has positioned the upcoming vote as critical for Croatia’s future within the EU and NATO frameworks. His portrayal of Milanovi? as “pro-Russian” suggests potential peril for the nation’s standing on the international stage. Similarly, Primorac emphasized the significance of the presidential vote, asserting it was vital for Croatia’s trajectory and future.
Political analyst Viseslav Raos remarked on Milanovi?’s transparent approach, noting that after five years without collaboration with Plenkovi?, there seems to be no incentive for Milanovi? to change now. Though the president’s role in Croatia is largely ceremonial, it holds considerable political leverage and serves as the supreme military commander, making it a crucial element in the country’s political dynamics.
In a pre-election debate, the tension between Milanovi? and Primorac was palpable as they addressed stark policy differences. Primorac, 59, has been a political figure since the early 2000s when he served as the science and education minister under an HDZ-led administration. After an unsuccessful presidential run in 2009, he shifted his focus towards academia, teaching at various institutions worldwide.
Milanovi?, while denying claims of pro-Russian sentiments, previously obstructed the deployment of Croatian officers for a NATO mission in Germany related to Ukraine, asserting he would veto any plans to send Croatian soldiers to Ukraine on similar missions. Plenkovi? contended that there was no such proposal currently on the table.
During their exchanges, Milanovi? accused Primorac of having associations with “mass murderers,” referencing ties to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Additionally, he claimed that Plenkovi? was backing Primorac, labeling him “the last communist” due to his previous membership in the former Yugoslavia’s Communist Party during the late 1980s.
In response, Primorac suggested that Milanovi?’s political alliances were questionable, citing connections to controversial figures like Milorad Dodik, Vladimir Putin, and Viktor Orban of Hungary as his main allies.
