ZAGREB – Polling stations across Croatia opened on Dec 29 to elect the country’s new president, a mainly ceremonial office, in a race where candidates from the two biggest parties are the main contenders.
Around 3.8 million Croats are eligible to cast votes for one of eight candidates, three of whom are women, ranging from left to the right on the political spectrum.
Incumbent President Zoran Milanovic, the opposition Socialist Democrats’ candidate, will run for a second term.
His main challenger is Mr Dragan Primorac, a former science minister backed by the governing Croatian Democratic Union.
The election will go to a second round if none of the candidates wins a majority of the vote.
Mr Milanovic has led in opinion polls before and after the election campaign, which analysts described as dull and uninspiring.
The latest poll published on Dec 27 by Nova TV Daily News showed Mr Milanovic leading with 37.2 per cent support against Mr Primorac, who has 20.4 per cent support.
The next in line are two women – independent candidate Marija Selak Raspudic and Ms Ivana Kekin from the We Can! (Mozemo) left-wing, green political party – who have garnered about 10 per cent support each, according to the poll.
Polling stations close at 7pm local time, and exit polls are expected minutes later. The first preliminary results will be known around 8pm and official results are expected in the following days.
The presidential role is, to a large extent, ceremonial as the head of state cannot veto laws, but has a say in foreign policy, defence and security matters.
During his term, Mr Milanovic, a former prime minister and a populist, has confronted Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic over foreign and public policies, with insults often traded between the two men. REUTERS
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Publish date : 2024-12-29 00:25:00
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