Zagherb (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Croatian President Zoran Milanovic decisively won the presidential election. According to official results, he will serve another five-year term.
In an address after the results were out, Milanovic stated his win was a seal of approval and trust from the electorate. He also put forward a message
“about the state of affairs in the country for those who need to hear it.”
“I am asking them (the government) to hear it,”
stated Milanovic.
“That is what the citizens wanted to say. This is not just support for me.”
President Milanović’s term has been marked by constant criticism of NATO and EU foreign policy, especially towards supplying Ukraine with arms. His re-election portends more of the same kind of combative approach to political opponents. It bodes well for continued political wrangles between him and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković’s government.
How did Zoran Milanovic win his decisive reelection?
In the Croatian presidential runoff on January 12, 2025, Zoran Milanović won with a decisive reelection result of 74.67%, while his opponent, Dragan Primorac, got 25.33%. The Croatian State Election Commission reports that the turnout of voters is around 44.15% of the total eligible voters of 3.7 million in the country. The victory will give Milanović a second five-year term, and it is a clear indicator of the high public support in Croatia amidst ongoing political challenges.
How does Milanovic’s leadership challenge EU and NATO policies?
Zoran Milanović, who is associated with the opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP), has positioned himself as a populist leader critical of both the European Union and NATO. His political goals include demanding greater accountability in the fight against corruption, fighting inflation, and better healthcare for Croatia. Milanović has criticized Western military aid to Ukraine as excessive and condemned the EU’s governance structure as “non-democratic.”
He has all along aspired to be the head of state in the interest of all citizens, regardless of his political affiliation, and has indicated he would like to make a difference in Croatia’s political life. His combative style frequently puts him at odds with the governing conservative party, particularly Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, whom he denounces for systemic corruption and tawdry use of democracy. Milanović’s presidency, as ceremonial as it is, also has immense political power because he remains the nation’s commander-in-chief.
