In a resounding endorsement of his leadership, Croatia’s President Zoran Milanović has won re-election with an overwhelming 74% of the vote in the presidential run-off. The victory cements Milanović’s role as a polarizing yet popular figure in Croatian politics, known for his critiques of the European Union and NATO’s policies, especially regarding support for Ukraine.
Milanović, who has often been compared to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump due to his combative communication style, faced Dragan Primorac, the candidate from the ruling conservative Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), in the runoff. Primorac managed to secure around 26% of the vote, highlighting the stark division in Croatian political landscape.
The election comes at a time when Croatia, a member of both the EU and NATO, is grappling with economic challenges like inflation, labor shortages, and ongoing corruption scandals that have tarnished the ruling government’s image. Milanović’s victory is seen as a rebuke to the HDZ and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, with whom he has had a contentious relationship during his first term.
