Croatian President Zoran Milanovic, backed by the opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its coalition partners, has won a decisive victory in the January 12 presidential election second round, according to both first preliminary results from the State Election Commission and exit polls. 

His victory, which was widely expected, sets the stage for a continuation of the tense cohabitation with Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic’s rightwing government, which has frequently erupted into public arguments between president and prime minister.

Milanovic took 71.02% of the vote, according to provisional results announced by the State Election Commission, based on results from 25.43% of polling stations.  

Primorac, backed by Plenkovic’s Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) and its allies, took just 28.98%.

Milanovic's score was even higher according to an exit poll quoted by news agency Hina, which put the incumbent president on 77.86% of the vote, compared to 22.14% for Primorac. 

The runoff followed a December 29 first round in which Milanovic narrowly missed an outright victory, receiving 49.11% of the vote. Primorac, a university professor and paediatrician, secured just 19.36%, with the remaining six candidates splitting the rest.

Milanovic expressed gratitude in a brief Facebook statement, simply writing, “Thank you!” 

His victory was widely anticipated, given the unprecedented 30-point gap between him and Primorac in the first round.

While the presidency in Croatia is largely ceremonial, Milanovic’s outspoken leadership style and frequent clashes with Plenkovic’s government have made him a polarising figure. Tensions have flared over issues ranging from military decisions to Croatia’s stance on the war in Ukraine.

Milanovic has faced criticism for what opponents describe as a pro-Russian stance, including his opposition to Croatia’s involvement in Nato training missions in Ukraine. In October, he blocked the chief of the general staff, General Tihomir Kundid, from attending a parliamentary defence committee meeting, prompting the HDZ to accuse him of attempting a “coup”.

Despite the controversies, Milanovic’s supporters view him as a defender of Croatia’s sovereignty and national interests.

Primorac campaigned on a platform of unity and stronger ties with the European Union and Nato. However, his campaign was overshadowed by a corruption scandal involving the HDZ, including the arrest of Croatia’s health minister on bribery charges.

Although Plenkovic swiftly dismissed the minister and pledged reforms, the scandal damaged public trust, particularly in the healthcare sector. Public sector protests demanding higher wages further undermined the HDZ’s standing ahead of the election.

The election has also been marred by allegations of Russian interference. A report by the London-based Centre for Information Resilience (CIR) identified a disinformation campaign aimed at bolstering Milanović’s candidacy.

The report highlighted a network of bot accounts promoting pro-Russian narratives and attacking Primorac on platforms like Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok. These accounts intensified activity after Milanović’s first-round victory and his criticisms of Western military support for Ukraine.

Croatian Minister of Culture and Media Nina Obuljen Korzinek called for heightened vigilance in addressing disinformation, citing the CIR’s findings as deeply concerning.