(Adnkronos) – A victory that sounds like a message to the government, that of Croatian President Zoran Milanović, supported by the opposition and critical of the European Union and NATO, who was re-elected by a large majority for another five-year term, defeating the candidate of the conservative governing party, Dragan Primorac, in the runoff. According to the results published by the Croatian state electoral authorities after counting over 99% of the ballots, Milanović obtained over 74% of the votes, compared to his challenger Primorac, who received almost 26%.
The result represents a major boost for Milanović, who is a critic of Western military support for Ukraine in its war against Russia. Milanović is also a fierce opponent of Croatia’s Conservative Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and his government. In a speech after the results were published, Milanović said his victory was a sign of approval and trust from voters, but also a message “about the situation in the country. I ask the government to listen to it. This is what the citizens wanted to say. This is not just support for me”.
During yesterday’s vote, Milanović again criticized the EU, calling it “undemocratic in many ways” and run by unelected officials. The EU’s position that “if you don’t think like me, then you are the enemy” amounts to “mental violence,” he said. “This is not the modern Europe I want to live and work in,” he said. “I will work to change it, as far as I can as president of a small nation”.
