Voters in Croatia have re-elected Zoran Milanovic for a second term, securing nearly 75% of the votes in the presidential election. This victory marks a significant setback for his opponent, Dragan Primorac, who represented the ruling center-right Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) party. Primorac’s performance, garnering only 25% of the votes, signifies the weakest showing ever for the influential HDZ party.
Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic responded to the election results with restraint, notably refraining from congratulating Milanovic and asserting that “Milanovic offers nothing.” In contrast, Milanovic extended an olive branch to the Prime Minister, indicating his willingness to collaborate.
In Croatia, the presidential role is primarily ceremonial, as the constitution mandates that the president must remain nonpartisan and serve all citizens. Throughout his tenure, Milanovic has been a vocal critic of the ruling party on various issues, including corruption, inflation, and healthcare. Although he condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, he has also expressed skepticism about the West’s military support to Kyiv.
Before his presidency, Milanovic served as Croatia’s Prime Minister from 2011 to 2016 and led the center-left Social Democratic Party (SDP) during that same period. He recently attempted to influence the parliamentary elections by declaring his intention to run for Prime Minister, but a court ruling deemed his candidacy unconstitutional. Milanovic subsequently accused the judiciary of acting on behalf of the HDZ, referring to them as a “gangster clique.”
The HDZ has maintained dominance in Croatian politics since the nation gained independence over three decades ago.
