“Croatian Leader on Track to Clinch Top Job in Surprise Landslide”

Croatia’s Incumbent President Zoran Milanović Leads in Presidential Election

In a sweeping victory, Croatia’s incumbent President Zoran Milanović has taken the lead in the country’s presidential election, according to an exit poll released immediately after the voting. The poll by Ipsos and released by state television HRT showed Milanović winning over 50% of the votes, while his main challenger Dragan Primorac, the candidate for the conservative HDZ ruling party, trailed far behind at 22%.

The first official results are yet to be published, but pre-election polls predicted that the two would face off in the second round on January 12, as none of the eight presidential election contenders were projected to get more than 50% of the vote. Milanović’s victory is a significant blow to Primorac, who had sought to portray himself as a unifier and Milanović as divisive.

As an outspoken critic of Western military support for Ukraine in its war against Russia, Milanović has been a fierce critic of current Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and has often clashed with him on issues related to Croatia’s international standing. Milanović has also blocked Croatia’s participation in a NATO-led training mission for Ukraine, declaring that “no Croatian soldier will take part in somebody else’s war.”

Primorac, on the other hand, has stated that “Croatia’s place is in the West, not the East.” However, his presidency bid has been marred by a high-level corruption case that landed Croatia’s health minister in jail last month and featured prominently in pre-election debates.

Milanović has been a popular figure in Croatia, known for his combative style of communication with political opponents. He has also served as prime minister in the past and has been a fierce critic of current Prime Minister Andrej Plenković.

Prior to the election, Plenković sought to portray the vote as one about Croatia’s future in the EU and NATO, labeling Milanović “pro-Russian” and a threat to Croatia’s international standing. He claimed that Milanović was leading the country towards the East, while Primorac was leading it towards the West.

The presidency is largely ceremonial in Croatia, but an elected president holds political authority and acts as the supreme military commander. Milanović’s victory will likely cement his position as the leader of the country and will likely have significant implications for Croatia’s foreign policy and international relations.

FAQs:

Q: Who won the Croatian presidential election?
A: According to an exit poll, incumbent President Zoran Milanović won over 50% of the votes, while his main challenger Dragan Primorac trailed behind at 22%.

Q: What is the significance of the election?
A: The election will determine the next president of Croatia, who will hold significant political authority and act as the supreme military commander.

Q: What are the key issues in the election?
A: The election is seen as a referendum on Croatia’s future in the EU and NATO, with Milanović opposing Western military support for Ukraine and Primorac advocating for a stronger commitment to the West.

Q: What are the implications of the election for Croatia’s foreign policy?
A: Milanović’s victory is likely to cement his position as the leader of the country and will likely have significant implications for Croatia’s foreign policy and international relations.

Conclusion:

The outcome of the Croatian presidential election is a significant blow to Primorac and a victory for Milanović, who has been a popular figure in Croatia known for his combative style of communication with political opponents. Milanović’s victory is likely to have significant implications for Croatia’s foreign policy and international relations, and will cement his position as the leader of the country.