The president of Croatiathe populist Zoran Milanovicwon the presidential elections this Sunday, close to an absolute majority, 49.12%, and needed more than 50, which would have allowed him not to face a second electoral round. Voters seem determined to give the current president a second term.
The projections, published after the closing of the polling stations, had suggested that Milanovic would obtain the 51.4% of the votes, followed far by the conservative scientist Dragan Primorac, with 19%.
These were the results of the rest of the opposition parties: Marija Selak Raspudić wins 9.24% (148,107 votes), Ivana Kekin 8.86% (141,918 votes), Tomislav Jonjić 5.06% (81,738 votes), Miro Bulj 3.82% (61,655 votes), Branka Lozo 2, 41% (38,945 votes) and Niko Tokić Kartelo 0.88% (14,286 votes).
Although the polls predicted an absolute majority that lasted a few hours, the polls prior to the vote predicted a victory for Milanovic with a wide margin, but without exceeding 40%. Therefore, the results have been much better than expected by the first measurements.
Milanovic is seen by the population as a counterweight to the ruling HDZ of the conservative Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, who has dominated the country since its independence from the former Yugoslavia in 1991.
Populist, eurosceptic and pro-Russian
Since becoming president in 2020, Milanovic has taken a turn from social democratic principles who defended populist, Eurosceptic, nationalist, and, according to his critics, even pro-Russian positions.
Although he promises loyalty to Croatia’s allies in the European Union (EU) and NATO, he has assured that for him this does not mean becoming a “puppet of others“, as in his opinion Plenkovic already is.
Some 3.8 million Croatians were called to the polls today to elect the person who will occupy the head of state for the next five years.
Under Croatian law, the president is primarily responsible for important representative functions, while also having powers in defense matters, being the head of the armed forces, as well as some in foreign policy.
The polling stations have closed at 7:00 p.m. local time after remaining open for twelve hours.
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