Croats will vote in presidential elections on December 29. Opinion polls suggest that after an intense campaign, the expressive incumbent, Zoran Milanovic, will win.
Milanovic’s main challenge is likely to come from the ruling HDZ party’s candidate Dragan Primorac, who Milanovic has derided as boring and ‘as fake as a 13-euro banknote’.
With the two main contenders frequently exchanging insults, analysts say none of the eight candidates is likely to win 50 per cent of the vote for an outright victory, leading to a run-off election scheduled for January 12.
The election comes as the European Union member state struggles with biting inflation, widespread corruption and labour shortages.
Milanovic, 58, has been one of Croatia’s leading and most colourful political figures for nearly two decades, known for his sharp wit and sometimes explosive statements. He took over the largely ceremonial presidency in 2020 from the opposition Social Democrats (SDP) on a platform promising to promote tolerance and liberalism. But since taking office, Milanovic has used it to attack political opponents and EU officials, often using abusive language.
For many, the election is a continuation of his feud with Prime Minister Andrej Plenković. Political analyst Tihomir Cipek told AFP:
“This is a duel between the prime minister and the president, which has been a constant in Croatian politics over the past decade.”
