Croatian president re-elected in landslide victory

Voters in Croatia have re-elected Zoran Milanovic to a second term, winning nearly three out of four votes in the country’s presidential election.

It was a disappointing result for his opponent Dragan Primorac, who was supported by the ruling centre-right Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ).

Primorac took 25 percent of the vote – the worst result for Croatia’s most powerful political party.

The result was met with a nonchalant response from Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic.

He refused to praise the winner and insisted that “Milanovic gives nothing away”.

Milanovic said he would “give a hand” to the Prime Minister.

The president in Croatia fulfills a large traditional role – the law requires him not to belong to a political party, but to be the leader of the country for all citizens.

Milanovic has frequently criticized the ruling party on issues such as corruption, inflation and health care.

Although he has criticized Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, he has often criticized Western military aid to Kyiv.

In the past to be presidentMilanovic was the prime minister of Croatia from 2011 to 2016, and led the Social Democratic Party (SDP) from 2007 to 2016.

In short, he entered the country’s parliamentary elections last year by announcing he will be running for prime ministerbefore the court decides that this is against the law.

In response, he accused the judges of doing the will of HDZ – “a gang”, as he said.

The ruling HDZ has been the main party since Croatia gained independence 30 years ago.