Zoran Milanović came very close to obtaining an absolute majority in the first round of the presidential election, with around 49.10% of the votes.
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The first exit polls gave him the winner in the first round, but a second round will ultimately be necessary.
Outgoing Croatian President Zoran Milanović obtained around 49.10% of the vote in Sunday's vote, well ahead of his main conservative opponent Dragan Primorac, credited with 19.35% of the vote.
Zoran Milanović openly criticizes Western military support for Ukraine in its war against Russia. He is often compared to Donald Trump for his combative style of communicating with his political opponents.
A ballot with European scope
For several months, tensions have been high between the outgoing president and current Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, the latter having described Zoran Milanović as “pro-Russian” and a threat to Croatia's international position.
According to Andrej Plenković, this presidential election is fundamental for Croatia's future within the EU and NATO.
“The difference between Dragan Primorac and Zoran Milanović is very simple: Milanović leads us to the East, Primorac leads us to the West”he considers.
Although the presidency is a largely symbolic position in Croatia, the president still holds some political authority and acts as the supreme military commander.
Zoran Milanović criticized NATO and EU support for Ukraine and said Croatia should not take sidessaying the country should stay away from global conflicts, despite being a member of both alliances.
The outgoing president also blocked Croatia's participation in a NATO-led training mission to Ukraine, saying that“no Croatian soldier will participate in someone else's war”.
His main rival in the elections, Dragan Primorac, declared that “Croatia’s place is in the West, not the East”.
Croatia's “global positioning” in question
Dragan Primorac's candidacy for president was, however, marred by a corruption case that landed the Croatian health minister in prison last month.
During the election campaign, the conservative candidate sought to present himself as a unifier and Zoran Milanović as a divider.
“Today is an extremely important day”declared Dragan Primorac after casting his ballot. “Croatia needs unity, Croatia needs its global positioning, and above all Croatia needs a peaceful life”.
Marija Selak Raspudić, a conservative independent candidate, came in a distant third place in the near-final results. She focused her election campaign on the economic plight of ordinary citizens, corruption and issues such as population decline in the country of some 3.8 million people.
The second round of the presidential election will therefore pit Zoran Milanović against Dragan Primorac on Sunday January 12.
