ZAGREB: Croatians cast ballots on Sunday to choose a new leader, with former Zoran Milanovic’s candidacy in the elections.
Dragan Primorac, who is supported by the traditional HDZ party that now governs the nation, is his good major rival among the eight candidates for the largely ceremonial position.
The vote comes as the 3.8 million-strong Nato and European Union countries struggle with widespread corruption, biting inflation, and labor shortages.
According to an opinion poll released on Friday, Primorac received the support of 20 % of the electorate while Milanovic is supported by 37 %.
The new head of state is likely to be chosen in a drainage in two weeks because none of the candidates is likely to receive more than 50 % of the vote to win outright.
During the battle, the two major competitors often traded taunts, with Milanovic ridiculing Primorac as dull and when “fake as a 13-euro note”.
Balance of power
Croatia’s leader commands the country’s military forces and has a claim in foreign policy.
However, despite having limited powers, many people believe that the business is essential for maintaining the social balance of power.
Since its independence in 1991, Croatia has primarily been governed by the HDZ.
” All the eggs should not be in one basket”, Nenad Horvat, a marketer in his 40s, told AFP.
He views the present president as the “last bar” through which HDZ’s control can pass.
Milanovic, a erstwhile communist prime minister, has been one of Croatia’s leading and most lively social figures for nearly two decades.
Sharp-minded and eloquent, Milanovic, 58, won the presidency for the opposition Social Democrats ( SDP ) in 2020 with pledges to advocate tolerance and liberalism.
But he frequently used offensive and populist language while using the business to criticize political opponents and International officials.
Milanovic, who condemned Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, has yet criticised the West’s military aid to Kyiv.
Andrej Plenkovic, the prime minister, was prompted to refer to him as a pro-Russian who is “destroying Croatia’s trust in NATO and the EU.”
Milanovic countered that he wanted to keep Croatia from being “dragged into warfare.”
” As long as I’m leader no Croatian man will wage someone else’s war”, he said this month.
He often pans Plenkovic and his HDZ gathering over systemic problem, calling the top a” major threat to Croatia’s democracy”.
” I’m a promise of the power of the squid of problem… headed by Andrej Plenkovic”, he said during the battle.
President-PM conflict
The poll serves as a result of a long-running conflict between two strong officials, according to many.
Social scientist Zarko Puhovski told AFP,” This is still about the fight between the leader and the perfect minister.” ” All the remainder are merely incidental subjects”.
Primorac, 59, campaigned as a “unifier” promoting home values and nationalism.
The election did present “whether Croatia is turning towards East or West… towards units or unity”, he said.
Primorac, a physician and scientist who returned to elections after 15 years, constantly accused Milanovic of “disgracing Croatia,” a state that was widely accepted by voters.
Barbara Sente Ocvirk, 36, told AFP that his main rival, Croatia’s current leader, should perform better and that she was unhappy with how the country’s current chairman was representing her.
But critics say that Primorac lacks political personality and trust, and has served only as the HDZ’s strike dog to inspire Milanovic.
Voting stations open at 7: 00 am ( 0600 GMT ) and close twelve hours later, when exit polls are expected.
Standard results are due later Sunday.
