Croatia’s presidential election is heading to a second round as incumbent President Zoran Milanovic, backed by the Social Democratic Party (SDP), narrowly missed securing an outright victory in Sunday’s first-round vote.
According to the State Electoral Commission (DIP), with 99.67% of votes counted, Milanovic received 49.1% of the vote, falling short of the majority needed to avoid a run-off. Exit polls initially suggested he had surpassed the 50% threshold, but unofficial results indicate otherwise.
Milanovic’s opponent in the second round, scheduled for Jan. 12, will be Dragan Primorac, the candidate for the center-right Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) and a former education minister, who garnered 19.4% of the vote.
While the SDP expressed mixed emotions, celebrating Milanovic’s significant lead but lamenting the narrow miss, HDZ representatives acknowledged their underperformance in the first round.
“The second round offers a fresh start, and we are determined to rally our supporters,” an HDZ spokesperson said.
The run-off election will determine whether Milanovic, who has led with a focus on progressive policies, can extend his term or if Primorac will lead a center-right resurgence.
As the race tightens, both candidates are expected to intensify their campaigns, appealing to undecided voters and smaller parties for support in what promises to be a closely watched electoral showdown.
