Zoran Milanovic has been re-elected as Croatia’s president, winning nearly three-quarters of the vote in the presidential election. His opponent, Dragan Primorac, backed by the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), managed just 25% of the vote, marking the party’s worst-ever electoral performance. The outcome reflects a resounding endorsement of Milanovic despite his frequent critiques of the government.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, leader of the HDZ, offered a muted response, refraining from congratulating Milanovic and criticizing him as offering “nothing.” Milanovic, in contrast, extended an olive branch, stating he would “offer a hand” to the prime minister. As a ceremonial head of state, Milanovic’s role is constitutionally non-partisan, yet his presidency has been marked by outspoken criticism of the government on issues such as corruption, inflation, and healthcare.

A seasoned politician, Milanovic served as prime minister from 2011 to 2016 and led the centre-left Social Democratic Party (SDP) for nearly a decade. His presidency has also seen controversy, including a failed attempt to run for prime minister last year, ruled unconstitutional by the courts. While Milanovic has condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, his criticism of Western military support for Kyiv has drawn international attention.

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