Second round of presidential election kicks off in Croatia

Croatia's second-round presidential election is underway, with incumbent Zoran Milanovic poised to secure a second term according to pre-election polling.

Milanovic, a vocal critic of Western military support for Ukraine, secured 49.7% of the vote in the first round held on December 29, falling just short of an outright victory. Despite this, polling data suggests that Milanovic, the left-leaning former prime minister, remains the front-runner in the runoff against Dragan Primorac, the candidate backed by Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic's government, Caliber.Az reports, citing European media.

Milanovic, who previously led Croatia's Social Democrats and served as the country's prime minister from 2011 to 2016, has steadily shifted rightward in recent years. His confrontational style, particularly in clashes with Plenkovic, has made him a major figure in Croatia's political landscape. Although he made an unsuccessful attempt to run as a parliamentary candidate in April, which was blocked by the constitutional court, Milanovic remains a strong opponent to the dominance of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ).

Dragan Primorac, a paediatrician and former minister of science, has presented himself as a unifier and a pro-Western figure in contrast to Milanovic's isolationist stance. However, Primorac's bid has been overshadowed by a corruption scandal involving Croatia's former health minister, which has marred his campaign and dominated pre-election debates.

The Croatian presidency, though largely ceremonial, carries significant political weight, with the president serving as the supreme commander of the military and influencing foreign policy decisions. Milanovic has been outspoken in advocating for Croatia to stay out of global conflicts, including opposing Croatia's participation in NATO-led missions and vetoing NATO's expansion to include Sweden and Finland.

With a turnout of just 46% in the first round—the lowest in 15 years—voter engagement remains a concern as the election heads into its decisive stage. With around 3.5 million eligible voters, the results of the second round could have major implications for Croatia's political direction and its role within NATO and the EU.

By Khagan Isayev