Croatia’s Presidential Election Heads to Runoff: Milanovic vs. Primorac
Croatia’s presidential election is set to proceed to a runoff on January 12 after no candidate secured over 50% of the votes in Sunday’s election, according to the State Election Commission (SEC).
With 99.88% of votes counted, incumbent President Zoran Milanovic, backed by the largest opposition party, the Social Democratic Party, led the race with 49.10%. He narrowly missed achieving a first-round victory. His main challenger, Dragan Primorac of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union, garnered 19.35% of the votes.
Under Croatian election law, if no candidate wins an outright majority, the top two candidates proceed to a runoff two weeks later.
Milanovic Confident Ahead of Runoff
Addressing his supporters, Milanovic expressed gratitude and confidence in securing a second term. “I believe that in two weeks we will celebrate victory,” he said. Milanovic has been president since 2015 and is seeking re-election amid a challenging economic backdrop.
Primorac Sees “Great Opportunity”
Dragan Primorac, a 59-year-old physician and scientist returning to politics after a 15-year hiatus, campaigned as a unifier promoting family values and patriotism. Speaking to his supporters, Primorac called the runoff “a great opportunity.”
“Now a great opportunity is coming. Milanovic and I will be one on one, so we will see who knows what and represents what,” he said. “Croatia needs changes, and in two weeks it will be a historic day.”
Election Amid Economic Challenges
The election comes as Croatia, a European Union and NATO member with a population of 3.8 million, grapples with rising inflation and a labor shortage. The outcome of the election could influence how the country addresses these pressing issues.
The Croatian president serves a five-year term and can seek re-election once. The upcoming runoff will determine who will lead the nation during this critical period.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
