Socialist won 74.58% of the valid votes against 25.42% of his opponent, the conservative Dragan Primorac; politician is critical of NATO and the EU, and has been compared to Trump, despite being left-wing
The president of , Zoran Milanovic, was re-elected in the second round of the presidential elections held on Sunday (12), consolidating his leadership with 74.58% of the valid votes. His opponent, Dragan Primorac, conservative candidate from the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) party, obtained 25.42%. This significant margin represents the biggest difference in a presidential election since the country’s independence in 1991.
With a voter turnout of 44.15%, 58-year-old Milanovic’s victory marks a significant setback for HDZ, the party of Prime Minister Andrej Plenković. The socialist, who assumed the presidency in 2020 with the support of the Social Democrats, reinforced his role as a fierce critic of the rival party, da and da. During his campaign, Milanovic highlighted corruption scandals associated with the HDZ and criticized Western military support for the , arguing that Croatia should avoid involvement in international disputes, even as a member of the EU and the Western alliance. Despite these positions, he condemns the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Zoran Milanovic has often been compared to the president-elect of the United States, due to his direct and controversial style of communication, as well as his critical stance towards international institutions and traditional allies. Despite positioning himself as a left-wing leader, his blunt statements and use of populist rhetoric bring him closer to the Trumpist profile, especially by challenging the status quo and attracting voters from different political spectrums. Dragan Primorac, with a technical profile and distant from politics since 2009, based his campaign on the conservative values of unity and patriotism, but faced difficulties in expanding his support base.
Milanovic will now have another five years to consolidate his policies in a context of challenges such as high inflation, labor shortages and corruption. Although the presidency in Croatia has a more symbolic character, the head of state is responsible for commanding the armed forces and representing the country on the international stage.
Published by Felipe Dantas
*Report produced with the help of AI
