Zoran Milanovic, the opposition Social Democrats’ candidate, on monitor to win a second time period in workplace, in accordance with preliminary outcomes.
President Zoran Milanovic is on monitor to win a second time period in workplace within the first spherical of Croatia’s presidential election, the State Electoral Fee says.
Preliminary outcomes from Sunday’s voting confirmed that based mostly on outcomes from practically 52 % of polling stations, Milanovic, the opposition Social Democratic Social gathering’s candidate, was profitable 50.1 % of the votes, far forward of his fundamental challenger, Dragan Primorac, the candidate of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), with 22.3 %.
An exit ballot performed by Ipsos on Sunday additionally confirmed Milanovic, 58, was set to win.
About 3.8 million Croats have been eligible to vote from amongst eight candidates. The submit of president is generally ceremonial.
Beneath Croatia’s electoral system, a candidate should safe a minimum of 50 % of the vote to keep away from a run-off. The election will go to a second spherical on January 12 if not one of the candidates wins a majority.
Throughout his five-year time period, which expires on February 18, Milanovic, a former prime minister, has clashed with Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic over international and public coverage and has fiercely criticised the European Union and NATO over their assist for Ukraine.
The president can not veto legal guidelines however has a say in international coverage, defence and safety issues.
Regardless of his populist rhetoric, Milanovic is seen by many as the one counterbalance to the HDZ-dominated authorities, 30 of whose ministers have been pressured to go away in recent times attributable to corruption allegations.
This election got here as Croatia grapples with excessive inflation and a labour scarcity.
Milanovic beforehand received the presidency for the Social Democrats in 2020 with guarantees to advertise tolerance and liberal values.
Whereas he has condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Milanovic has been important of Western army assist for Kyiv, a stance that led Plenkovic to accuse him of being “pro-Russian” and “damaging” Croatia’s credibility.
In response, Milanovic argued that his purpose is to guard Croatia from being “dragged into warfare”.
“So long as I’m president, no Croatian soldier will battle in any person else’s wars,” he mentioned this month.
