Title: Pro-Russian Milanović Set to Win Croatian Presidential Election in First Round
Croatian President Zoran Milanović is poised to secure a victory in the first round of presidential elections, as exit polls indicate he has garnered over 50% of the votes. According to Vecernji List, a leading Croatian newspaper, Milanović is heading for another term with a substantial lead over his main rival, Dragan Primorac.
Exit polls show Milanović, who is backed by the left-wing Social Democratic Party (SDP), receiving 51.48% of the votes. Primorac, a former minister of science from the ruling HDZ party, trails far behind with 19.29%. The race is then followed by two leading female candidates, independent Maria Selak Raspudić and Ivanna Keкин of the left-green Mozemo party, each with around 8% of the votes.
The official results will start to be announced by the electoral commission one hour after polling stations close.
While the Croatian presidency is largely ceremonial, with the president having no veto power over laws, it does carry a vote in matters of foreign policy, defense, and security. Milanović, a former prime minister known for his populist stance, has had a contentious relationship with Prime Minister Andrej Plenković over foreign and state policy matters during his tenure.
Milanović, a prominent pro-Putin European president, has opposed military support for Ukraine throughout his term. His views were extensively analyzed in an earlier EuroIntegration article, "Against Ukraine and NATO". In recent months, Milanović also refused to endorse Croatia‘s participation in NATO’s support initiative for Ukraine, NSATU, arguing that it could potentially be detrimental to national interests.
The upcoming victory for Milanović, which seems likely based on current polling, could indicate a shift in Croatia’s political scene and potentially influence its foreign policy stance. Keep an eye on EuroIntegration for more updates on the Croatian presidential election and its potential impacts.
