The socialist candidate, and former Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic, defeated the incumbent President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović in the second round of the Croatian Presidential election. The victory was very narrow and sets the stage for an exciting parliamentary election this autumn.
In the second and final round of the election, Milanovic won 52.7% of votes, while the incumbent Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, candidate of the ruling centre-right Croatian Democratic Union, garnered 47.3% of the votes.
The president’s role is largely ceremonial in Croatia, but the president does have a say in foreign policy, defence and security matters.
Milanovic ran his election campaign on a promise to fight corruption, which he said had increased since he lost power to the conservatives.
”If this victory of mine, a tight but a fair and clear victory, has brought a little hope and faith to our people and our society, then I am a happy man and let’s celebrate together”- says Zoran Milanivic, Croatian Prime Minister.
The outgoing president Grabar-Kitarovic in her speech wished Milanovic a successful five-year term in office which begins in February.
“I am once again calling for unity and at this moment, as I finish this speech, I wish every success to Zoran Milanovic, because that is in the interests of my, and his, and all the children in our country, that is in the interests of the Republic of Croatia and of our progress”- says Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, HDZ candidate.
The upcoming parliamentary election will take place some time before December 23rd this year.