Zagreb (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The presidential runoff election is taking place in Croatia on January 12, 2025, with incumbent President Zoran Milanovic ahead in opinion polls.
Milanovic was voted for in the primary held two weeks ago by 49.1%, and far behind Primorac managed only 19.35%. According to recent polls, this time around, Milanovic stands to garner around 67.4% of the votes, while Primorac is expected to score less than 27%.
Incumbent Zoran Milanović, supported by the Social Democratic Party and their allies, has had a strong critical stance against the involvement of NATO in Ukraine. He has gained considerable popularity, thus likely to win a second term. Dragan Primorac was the challenger, held close by the ruling Croatian Democratic Union party. Primorac, a former Minister of Science, Education, and Youth, is running against Milanović after finishing second in the first round of voting. These candidates are different in political ideologies and models of governance in Croatia, as Milanović is more left-populist. At the same time, Primorac stands for the more right-wing values associated with the HDZ.
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The election happens in the background of high inflation and corruption problems within Croatia. Milanovic’s presidency has been quite contentious with the prime minister, Andrej Plenkovic, where the media has often captured the public bickering and accusations between them. Milanovic’s populist language appeals to those seeking a counterweight against the governing party.
The Social Democratic Party is a center-left party, primarily emphasizing social democracy, antifascism, and pro-Europeanism. The party pushes for social justice, equality, and workers’ rights in pursuit of the narrowing of economic inequalities and inclusive policies. SDP supports progressive social policies, for example, rights for women, rights for the LGBTQs, and protection of the environment.
The Croatian Democratic Union is a center-right party that integrates Christian democratic values and national conservatism. It promotes Croatian national interests, patriotism, and traditional values based on Catholic teachings. The HDZ focuses on maintaining cultural identity and emphasizes conservative social policies.
Both parties have common ground concerning economic development and EU membership; however, fundamentally, they are different on issues of social policy, ideological orientation, and approach to governance. The SDP is closer to progressive reforms, with the intention of promoting social justice, while the HDZ emphasizes conservative values and national identity.
