Incumbent President Milanovic Nearly Wins Croatia's Presidential Election, Second Round to Be Held on 12 January

On 29 January, incumbent President Zoran Milanovic is leading in the first round of the presidential election in Croatia, the State Election Commission reported on its website.

After counting 100% of the votes, it became known that Milanovic, representing the opposition Social Democrats, received 49.09% of them.

In second place is former Minister of Science Dragan Primorac from the ruling Croatian Democratic Union party with 19.35%.

In third place is independent candidate Marija Selak Raspudic with 9.25% of the vote.

Milanovic and Primorac will now meet in the second round of the presidential election, which will take place on 12 January.

Over 46% of voters cast their ballots in the first round of the presidential election.

Milanović's result comes as a surprise, as all polls, even if they declared him the favourite, predicted that he would have to go through to the second round. The latest polls gave him 37% of the vote in the first round. According to early comments, this is a serious setback for the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) of Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, who is harshly criticised by Milanović, Index writes.

Milanovic's five-year term in office expires on 18 February. He is known for clashing with Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic over foreign and state policy and has fiercely criticised the European Union and NATO for supporting Ukraine.

The second round of the presidential election is due to take place on 12 January. Milanović and Primorac will compete in it.

The role of the Croatian president is largely ceremonial, as the head of state cannot veto laws, but has a say in foreign policy, defence and security.

As The Gaze previously reported, eight candidates took part in the presidential race in Croatia. Three of them are women representing the left and right political spectrum.