Zoran Milanovic, a NATO critic, is on monitor to win the run-off vote after securing 49 p.c votes in spherical one.
Croatians are voting in a presidential run-off election, with incumbent Zoran Milanovic anticipated to win a second time period in workplace in what can be a blow to the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) occasion, which backs his rival.
Polling stations opened on Sunday at 7am native time (06:00 GMT) and would shut at about 7pm (18:00 GMT), with exit polls anticipated minutes later.
Milanovic, an outspoken critic of Western army help for Ukraine in opposition to Russia, gained 49.1 p.c of the vote through the contest’s first spherical two weeks in the past – narrowly lacking an outright victory.
The 58-year-old chief entered the competition with surging momentum as he confronted off in opposition to Dragan Primorac, who managed to garner 19.35 p.c of the votes. Primorac, 59, is backed by the HDZ occasion, which has ruled the previous Yugoslav republic since declaring independence in 1991.
The election comes because the European Union and NATO member nation of three.8 million individuals struggles with biting inflation, corruption scandals and a labour scarcity.
Divisive politics
Milanovic, a former left-wing prime minister, took over the presidency in 2020 with the backing of the primary opposition Social Democrats (SDP) occasion.
Milanovic condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine however has additionally criticised the West’s army help for Kyiv. His major rival has dubbed him “a pro-Russian puppet”.
He’s very fashionable and is usually in contrast with United States President-elect Donald Trump for his combative fashion of communication with political opponents.
The 58-year-old has been a fierce critic of present Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic and the pair have lengthy sparred with one another.
The incumbent president repeatedly accuses Plenkovic and his conservative HDZ occasion of systemic corruption, calling the prime minister a “severe risk to Croatia’s democracy”.
Croatia’s presidential powers are restricted, however a win by Milanovic can be a setback for the HDZ and Prime Minister Plenkovic.
Ceremonial place
An elected president holds political authority and acts because the supreme army commander. Many consider the presidential place is essential for the political stability of energy.
Primorac entered politics within the early 2000s when he was the science and training minister within the HDZ-led authorities. He unsuccessfully ran for the presidency in 2009, and after that primarily centered on his tutorial profession, together with lecturing at universities within the US, China and Croatia.
Milanovic denied he’s pro-Russian however final yr blocked the dispatch of 5 Croatian officers to NATO’s mission in Germany referred to as Safety Help and Coaching for Ukraine.
He additionally pledged he would by no means approve sending Croatian troopers as a part of any NATO mission to Ukraine. Plenkovic and his authorities say there isn’t any such proposal.
Milanovic accused Primorac of associating with “mass murderers”, referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s associates and the struggle in Gaza.
