Croatia's Presidential Runoff: Milanović Leads Primorac in Critical Election
Voting began at 7 AM on Sunday in Croatia as the nation heads to the polls for the presidential runoff election. The incumbent president, Zoran Milanović, is widely favored to secure victory against Dragan Primorac, a former minister from the centerright Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ). Polling stations are set to close at 7 PM, with preliminary results expected later in the evening, while final results may take a few days to be confirmed.
In the first round of the elections held on December 29, Milanović garnered 49.1% of the votes, coming close to avoiding a runoff altogether. Primorac, in contrast, received just 19.35% of the votes, and recent polls suggest he may struggle to achieve even 30% in this round, with Milanović maintaining a strong lead of approximately 67% support.
The presidential role in Croatia is largely ceremonial; however, the president serves as the commander of the armed forces and plays a significant part in managing the country’s foreign policy alongside the government. Milanović, who received backing from a centerleft coalition led by the Social Democratic Party (SDP), has shifted to more right-leaning stances on various issues in recent years, occasionally adopting populist positions. His popularity is further bolstered by corruption scandals that have recently weakened the HDZ, which has been in power since 2016.
During his first term, Milanović was openly critical of the government's restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic and expressed opposition to the reception of migrants, frequently defending the Croatian police amid allegations of their violent treatment of migrants. Notably, he has consistently criticized military support for Ukraine, and recently declined to endorse sending Croatian soldiers to participate in NATO training for Ukrainian troops, asserting that "as long as I am president, Croatian soldiers will not fight other people's wars."
Milanović has also voiced his disapproval of Finland and Sweden's entry into NATO, urging that international efforts should instead focus first on amending electoral laws in Bosnia and Herzegovina to benefit the Croatian populace residing there. Such stances are considered relatively unconventional for Croatia, a nation that has historically shown strong support for NATO and maintained pro-Western sentiment.
In the context of Croatian political tradition, where presidents are often expected to act as neutral arbiters above party affiliations, Milanović’s positions mark a significant departure from past norms. As the runoff unfolds, observers await to see if Milanović's popularity will translate into a decisive victory in what promises to be a pivotal moment for Croatian politics.
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