Zoran Milanovic, Croatia’s incumbent president and a vocal critic of the European Union and NATO, has won a second term in office following a decisive victory in the presidential runoff election on Sunday.
Milanovic defeated Dragan Primorac, the candidate from the ruling conservative HDZ party, securing 74.6 per cent of the vote, according to near-complete official results.
The state election authorities confirmed these figures after counting more than 99 per cent of the ballots. Milanovic’s challenger, Primorac, managed to garner only 25.3 per cent of the vote, making the outcome a significant victory for the 58-year-old leader.
Milanovic, a well-known political figure in Croatia, is often recognised for his strong opposition to Western military support for Ukraine. His confrontational approach to political discourse has drawn comparisons to US President-elect Donald Trump.
In his victory speech, Milanovic continued his criticism of the European Union, describing it as “non-democratic in many ways” and controlled by unelected officials.
He expressed frustration with the EU’s attitude toward dissenting opinions, which he referred to as a form of “mental violence.” Milanovic vowed to advocate for changes within the EU, saying, “That’s not the modern Europe I want to live and work in.”
This win makes Milanovic only the third Croatian president to secure a second term, following former Presidents Franjo Tudman and Stjepan Mesic.
Although the Croatian presidency is largely ceremonial, it carries significant responsibilities, including serving as the supreme military commander.
However, Milanovic’s re-election is likely to fuel ongoing political tensions with Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic. The two leaders have had a strained relationship throughout Milanovic’s first term, and their differing political stances suggest continued friction.
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