‘Croatia’s Trump’ Secures First Round Victory in Presidential Election, Heads to Runoff

Plenković framed the recent election as a referendum on Croatia’s trajectory within the European Union.

“Milanović is a cancer of Croatian politics,” he declared earlier this month, accusing the president of attempting to steer Croatia closer to Moscow. These strong statements reflect the increasingly fraught political climate in the country.

However, Croatian political analyst Ivan Grdešić, a professor at Libertas International University in Zagreb, downplayed the influence of geopolitical arguments in shaping voter sentiment. He highlighted the challenges facing Plenković’s candidate, Primorac, particularly his lack of charisma, which limits his ability to connect with the broader electorate.

“I think he is just a little bit too sophisticated in some of his debates,” Grdešić noted. Grdešić, who has previously served as Croatia’s ambassador to the U.K. and the U.S., suggested that this intellectual approach may alienate average voters.

Primorac’s campaign was further undercut by controversy surrounding Health Minister Vili Beroš, who was dismissed after being arrested in November as part of a corruption investigation launched by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office.

Jasna Karacic Zanetti, a Croatian patients’ rights advocate, acknowledged public skepticism stemming from Primorac’s association with the same political party as the disgraced minister. “I hear many doubts from patients who are uneasy about the political linkage,” she said.

Attempts by POLITICO to secure comments from Milanović’s office were declined, and Primorac did not respond to requests for an interview.

Sunday’s election marked Croatia’s third major vote this year, following a parliamentary election in April and the European Parliament election in June.

Ketrin Jochecová, Sebastian Starcevic, and Hanne Cokelaere contributed to this report.