Voters in Croatia have re-elected Zoran Milanovic to a second time period, after he received virtually three-quarters of votes solid within the nation’s presidential election.
It was a dismal end result for his opponent Dragan Primorac, who had the backing of the governing centre-right Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) occasion.
Primorac picked up 25 % of the vote – the worst-ever end result for Croatia’s strongest political pressure.
The result was met with a muted response from Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic.
He declined to congratulate the winner and insisted that “Milanovic presents nothing”.
Milanovic mentioned he would “supply a hand” to the prime minister.
Presidents in Croatia fulfil a largely ceremonial function – the structure insists they have to not be a party-political determine, however act as the top of state for all residents.
Milanovic has been a frequent critic of the governing occasion on points together with corruption, inflation and healthcare.
Whereas he condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, he has additionally ceaselessly criticised the West’s army assist for Kyiv.
Earlier than becoming president, Milanovic was prime minister of Croatia from 2011 to 2016, and led the centre-left Social Democratic Occasion (SDP) from 2007 to 2016.
He briefly inserted himself into the nation’s parliamentary elections final 12 months by asserting he’d be running for prime minister, earlier than a courtroom dominated the transfer unconstitutional.
In response, he accused the judges of doing the bidding of the HDZ – “the gangster clique”, as he put it.
The governing HDZ has been the dominant occasion since Croatia gained independence greater than 30 years in the past.
