Croatian President Zoran Milanovic, with 49.1% of the vote, almost reached an absolute majority in the Sunday election on Dec. 29. Second place was a member of the ruling party HDZ Dragan Primorac, who “won” only 19.4%. The runoff will take place on Jan. 12, 2025. Milanovic was supported by left-wing Social Democrats.
In Croatia, the President is the commander-in-chief of the military, so Milanovic has spoken out against further support for Ukraine in its war on Russia and blocked the participation of Croatian officers in the NATO command center in Wiesbaden, which had been supported by Primorac. Primorac has attacked Milanovic as being “pro-Russia” and as,"destroying Croatia’s credibility in NATO and the EU.” Milanovic has said he will protect Croatia from being dragged into somebody else’s war.
