Croatians headed to the polls on Sunday to elect a new president, with incumbent Zoran Milanovic poised as the frontrunner among eight candidates.
Opinion polls suggest a likely showdown between Milanovic and Dragan Primorac, the candidate backed by the ruling conservative HDZ party.
The election comes as Croatia, an EU and NATO member of 3.8 million people, grapples with high inflation, entrenched corruption, and a labour shortage.
Milanovic Leads but Runoff Likely
Milanovic, supported by the left-wing Social Democrats, leads the polls with 37 percent of voter support, while Primorac trails at 20 percent. However, no candidate is expected to secure the required 50 percent majority, setting the stage for a runoff in two weeks.
“There will be two races,” Milanovic told reporters after casting his ballot in Zagreb, urging voters to participate, saying, “It’s worth it.”
Heated Campaign Between Rivals
The campaign has been marked by sharp exchanges between Milanovic and Primorac. Milanovic has mocked his opponent as “boring” and “as fake as a 13-euro note.” Meanwhile, Primorac has accused Milanovic of “disgracing Croatia.”
By 3:30 pm GMT, voter turnout stood at 36 percent, slightly below the nearly 39 percent recorded at the same time during the 2019 presidential election, according to the electoral commission.
The Role of the Presidency
Although the presidency in Croatia is largely ceremonial, it holds significant influence over the armed forces and foreign policy. The position is also seen as a critical counterbalance to the ruling HDZ, which has dominated the country’s politics since independence in 1991.
“All the eggs should not be in one basket,” said Nenad Horvat, a salesman in his 40s. He views Milanovic as the “last barrier” preventing HDZ from consolidating total power.
Milanovic: A Polarising Figure
At 58, Milanovic remains one of Croatia’s most prominent and controversial politicians. A former prime minister, he won the presidency in 2020, promising tolerance and liberalism. However, his tenure has been marked by populist rhetoric and frequent clashes with political rivals and EU officials.
While he condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Milanovic has criticised Western military support for Kyiv, arguing it risks dragging Croatia into conflict. “As long as I’m president, no Croatian soldier will wage somebody else’s wars,” he said earlier this month.
Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic has labelled Milanovic “pro-Russian” and accused him of damaging Croatia’s credibility within NATO and the EU. Milanovic, in turn, has called Plenkovic a “serious threat to Croatia’s democracy” and criticised HDZ’s alleged systemic corruption.
“I’m a guarantee of the control of the octopus of corruption… headed by Andrej Plenkovic,” Milanovic said during his campaign.
Primorac: A Call for Unity
Primorac, a 59-year-old physician and scientist making a political comeback after 15 years, has positioned himself as a unifying figure. Campaigning on family values and patriotism, he emphasised the need for “unity, global positioning, and a peaceful life.”
After casting his vote in Zagreb, Primorac told reporters he would later attend a mass. His message of unity resonated with supporters who criticised Milanovic’s confrontational style.
A Longstanding Political Rivalry
For many, the election is a continuation of the fierce rivalry between Milanovic and Plenkovic. “This is still about the conflict between the prime minister and president,” said political analyst Zarko Puhovski. “All the rest are just incidental topics.”
Voting stations close at 7:00 pm (6:00 pm GMT), with exit polls expected shortly after. Official results are due later on Sunday.
