Eight candidates are competing in Croatia’s presidential race, with pre-election polls showing that the incumbent enjoys the highest support but well short of enough to win in the first round.
Zoran Milanović has served as Croatia’s president since 2020. Prior to that, he headed the Social Democratic Party of Croatia (SDP) from 2007 until 2016 and served as the country’s prime minister (2011-2016). A lawyer, he gained professional experience in Brussels as a Croatian diplomat accredited to the EU and NATO.
During his premiership, Croatia joined the European Union in 2013. In the last presidential elections, he defeated his predecessor, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), in the second round.
Milanović portrayed himself as a modern and progressive candidate during the presidential campaign. After taking office, however, he has often employed populist and pro-Kremlin rhetoric, such as describing Austria’s pandemic lockdowns as “Nazi methods” and opposing Zagreb’s support for Kyiv after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In late 2024, he opposed the participation of Croatian soldiers in NATO’s NSATU mission, which coordinates arms, ammunition, and equipment deliveries to Ukraine and trains Ukrainian troops.
President Milanović is embroiled in a long-standing conflict with prime minister Andrej Plenković’s (HDZ) government, which he frequently criticized for alleged corruption and abuses of power.
Pre-election polls estimate Milanović’s support at 31-38%.
During his premiership, Croatia joined the European Union in 2013. In the last presidential elections, he defeated his predecessor, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), in the second round.
Milanović portrayed himself as a modern and progressive candidate during the presidential campaign. After taking office, however, he has often employed populist and pro-Kremlin rhetoric, such as describing Austria’s pandemic lockdowns as “Nazi methods” and opposing Zagreb’s support for Kyiv after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In late 2024, he opposed the participation of Croatian soldiers in NATO’s NSATU mission, which coordinates arms, ammunition, and equipment deliveries to Ukraine and trains Ukrainian troops.
President Milanović is embroiled in a long-standing conflict with prime minister Andrej Plenković’s (HDZ) government, which he frequently criticized for alleged corruption and abuses of power.
Pre-election polls estimate Milanović’s support at 31-38%.
The strongest contender to face him in the second round, scheduled for January 12, is Dragan Primorac, backed by the ruling center-right HDZ.
Primorac holds a doctor’s degree in medicine obtained at the University of Zagreb. He is an expert in pediatrics and medical genetics, as well as a forensic medicine specialist. Having received numerous awards, he also lectures at both Croatian and international universities.
A longtime member of the HDZ, Primorac served as minister of education from 2003 to 2009 in two center-right governments led by Ivo Sanader.
According to a 2007 survey, he was the best-performing cabinet government member, with 31% approval. In 2009, he ran for the presidency as an independent candidate, but garnered less than 6% of the vote.
Primorac advocates for restoring greater civility to Croatia’s political discourse, and experts believe his victory would align the policies of the presidential palace with those of the government.
Pre-election polls give him 21-26% support.
Polling at around 10% are two of the election’s three female candidates.
Primorac holds a doctor’s degree in medicine obtained at the University of Zagreb. He is an expert in pediatrics and medical genetics, as well as a forensic medicine specialist. Having received numerous awards, he also lectures at both Croatian and international universities.
A longtime member of the HDZ, Primorac served as minister of education from 2003 to 2009 in two center-right governments led by Ivo Sanader.
According to a 2007 survey, he was the best-performing cabinet government member, with 31% approval. In 2009, he ran for the presidency as an independent candidate, but garnered less than 6% of the vote.
Primorac advocates for restoring greater civility to Croatia’s political discourse, and experts believe his victory would align the policies of the presidential palace with those of the government.
Pre-election polls give him 21-26% support.
Polling at around 10% are two of the election’s three female candidates.
Maria Selak Raspudić was elected an MP in 2020 on the ticket of the right-wing party The Bridge. She is currently an independent. During her campaign, she criticized the Istanbul Convention on preventing violence against women and repeatedly called for strengthening presidential powers.
Ivana Kekin, representing the leftist bloc We Can! has served in parliament since 2021 and works as a psychiatrist at a university hospital in Zagreb. She gained recognition as an activist for women’s reproductive rights and improving public health standards in Croatia.
The remaining candidates are polling at below 5% and include Miro Bulj from The Bridge, Branka Lozo of the House and National Rally party, and independents Tomislav Jonjić and Niko Tokić Kartelo.
If the presidential race will not be resolved after the first round of voting, which is likely, considering the polls, the second round will take place two weeks later, on January 12.
Ivana Kekin, representing the leftist bloc We Can! has served in parliament since 2021 and works as a psychiatrist at a university hospital in Zagreb. She gained recognition as an activist for women’s reproductive rights and improving public health standards in Croatia.
The remaining candidates are polling at below 5% and include Miro Bulj from The Bridge, Branka Lozo of the House and National Rally party, and independents Tomislav Jonjić and Niko Tokić Kartelo.
If the presidential race will not be resolved after the first round of voting, which is likely, considering the polls, the second round will take place two weeks later, on January 12.
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