Croatians voted on Sunday, re-electing incumbent President Zoran Milanovic to another five-year term with 74% of the run-off ballot, according to official results. He was backed by the opposition Social Democratic Party.
Around 3.8 million people of Croatia, which became the 28th member of the European Union in 2013, were eligible to vote.
In the first round two weeks ago, Milanovic came first with 49.1% support, with Dragan Primorac – who represents the ruling Croatia Democratic Union – in second place on 19.35%.
An opinion poll published on Friday by Croatia’s Nova TV Daily News showed Milanovic winning the deciding runoff vote with 67.4%. It gave Primorac support of less than 27%.
After casting his ballot in the capital, Zagreb, Milanovic told reporters he was confident of winning another term in office.
“In the past five years I did my job in the best faith and I hope that people have seen it,” he said.
The Croatian head of state cannot veto laws but has a say in foreign policy, defence and security matters. Milanovic condemned Russsia’s invasion of Ukraine but has also been critical of Western support for Kyiv.
Milanovic says he is not pro-Russian but last year blocked the despatch of five Croatian officers to NATO’s mission in Germany, called Security Assistance & Training For Ukraine. He has also pledged never to allow Croatian military personnel for any NATO mission in Ukraine.
Government sources say there has never been a plan to send personnel from Croatia for any NATO mission in Ukraine.
His critics deride him as a “pro-Russian puppet”. Others compare him to Donald Trump, US president-elect, for his combative-style of communication with political opponents.
During his term, Milanovic, a populist former prime minister, has confronted Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic over foreign and public policies, with the two frequently trading insults.
Milanovic has accused Plenkovic of systemic corruption, describing him as a “serious threat to Croatia’s democracy”.
(With inputs from Reuters)
