Croatia’s incumbent President Zoran Milanovic secured a decisive victory in runoff elections held Sunday. Watch this report for more details!

Croatia: Milanovic's landslide victory in Presidential run-off

Voters in Croatia began casting their ballots on Sunday as polls opened in the country’s runoff presidential election. Watch this report for more details!

Croatia: Incumbent President Milanovic expected to win polls, says reports

The outgoing President of the Republic, Zoran Milanovic, could hold on to his office in Croatia. The first round of the presidential election in Croatia will be held on 29 December and the second on 12 January. Watch for more details!

Zoran Milanovic Expected To Return As Croatia President

The outgoing President of the Republic, Zoran Milanovic, could hold on to his office in Croatia. The first round of the presidential election in Croatia will be held on 29 December and the second on 12 January. Watch for more details!



Croatia's constitutional court has brought President Zoran Milanović from running for Prime Minister in next month's elections. The court ruled that to contest in the upcoming polls the sitting President would have to first resign from the post of President.

Croatia Parliamentary Elections: After dominating politics for decades, PM's party loses support

Croatian President barred Zoran Milanović from running for PM

Croatian President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/croatia-votes-for-president-set-to-lead-european-union-269511">Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic</a> on Saturday blamed sexism and "fake news" for her defeat in elections last week, as well as a rival who split the right-wing electorate she was counting on.

Speaking to journalists in her official Zagreb palace, Grabar-Kitarovic blasted what she saw as often politically biased media in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/croatia-to-pick-a-president-in-tight-three-way-race-269278">Croatia</a>.

"In <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/croatia-to-hold-presidential-vote-on-december-22-pm-plenkovic-262143">Croatia</a> we have not only press freedom, we have complete chaos in the media," she said, alleging that "some criminal organisations are paying" certain outlets.

She did not cite specific examples.

Leftist former prime minister Zoran Milanovic won the January 5 election and takes up the post during Croatia's helm at the rotating <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-eu-commission-to-have-almost-as-many-women-as-men-248648">EU</a> presidency.

Issues such as the European Union's relationship with post-Brexit Britain and haggling over the bloc's long-term budget are likely to dominate.

Grabar-Kitarovic said that, with Milanovic, she hoped media reporting in her country "will calm down a bit, because he's a male".

Analysts however say that Grabar-Kitarovic's defeat owed to a poor campaign riddled with gaffes and embarrassing promises, such as one to increase monthly salaries to 8,000 euros, nearly 10 times the current average.&nbsp;

She also invited anger and mockery when she sang at the birthday party of Zagreb’s scandal-hit mayor and promised to bring him “cakes… in prison” if he was convicted on a slew of corruption charges.&nbsp;

The 51-year-old outgoing president denied knowledge of any corruption when she served in government as a minister.

She also said she was going to take "a couple of months" to decide what to do after leaving office, expressing a preference for academia.

Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic on Saturday blamed sexism and "fake news" for her defeat in elections last week, as well as a rival who split the right-wing electorate she was counting on.

Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic on Saturday blamed sexism and "fake news" for her defeat in elections last week, as well as a rival who split the right-wing electorate she was counting on. Speaking to journalists in her official Zagreb palace, Grabar-Kitarovic blasted what she saw as often politically biased media in Croatia. "In Croatia we have not only press freedom, we have complete chaos in the media," she said, alleging that "some criminal organisations are paying" certain outlets. She did not cite specific examples. Leftist former prime minister Zoran Milanovic won the January 5 election and takes up the post during Croatia's helm at the rotating EU presidency. Issues such as the European Union's relationship with post-Brexit Britain and haggling over the bloc's long-term budget are likely to dominate. Grabar-Kitarovic said that, with Milanovic, she hoped media reporting in her country "will calm down a bit, because he's a male". Analysts however say that Grabar-Kitarovic's defeat owed to a poor campaign riddled with gaffes and embarrassing promises, such as one to increase monthly salaries to 8,000 euros, nearly 10 times the current average. She also invited anger and mockery when she sang at the birthday party of Zagreb’s scandal-hit mayor and promised to bring him “cakes… in prison” if he was convicted on a slew of corruption charges. The 51-year-old outgoing president denied knowledge of any corruption when she served in government as a minister. She also said she was going to take "a couple of months" to decide what to do after leaving office, expressing a preference for academia.

Croatia president blames poll defeat on sexism, 'fake news'

According to the preliminary results of Croatia&#39;s&nbsp;elections on Sunday, the&nbsp;country looked set for a lengthy coalition horse-trading after voters declined to bring in a clear majority. 
 
Less than a year ago, within five months in power, the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ)-led coalition government had broken down owing to a conflict of interest scandal. This is the second ballot which may lead to another coalition. 
 
Early today, the 60 per cent votes counted pointed to HDZ winning over 61 seats while opposition Social Democrats (SDP) having 54. The centre-right party Most (the Bridge) stood third with 13 seats. 
 
Securing a majority in the 151-seat parliament may be difficult for HDZ. 
 
A low voter turnout indicated that the Croatians&nbsp;had lost interest in the voting process following a year of political deadlock which blocked reforms. 
 
The economy needs to emerge from a six-year recession, with an unemployment rate of 13 per cent, public debt up to 85 per cent of GDP and deficient investment climate. 
 
The previous coalition made a significant shift to the right, attacking the Serbs and putting restrictions on the media which further strained its ties with Serbia. 
 
However, the HDZ is now banking on Andrej Plenkovic, a more moderate leader who could gain support from the Serbs, AFP noted. 
 
Former member of the European parliament Plenkovic vowed to move from extremism and populism to the center-right. 
 
&quot;I&#39;m certain that we are the party that will have the privilege to form the next stable Croatian government,&quot; Plenkovic said today. 
 
Former prime minister Zoran Milanovic and Plenkovic&#39;s rival, however, said, &quot;It is too early to call the result.&quot; 
 
He also emphasised the need for a stable government, calling the previous government an &quot;unstable and destructive one.&quot; 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies)

As per the 60 per cent votes counted, HDZ had 61 seats, while opposition SDP had 54; centre-right party Most came third with 13 seats

According to the preliminary results of Croatia's elections on Sunday, the country looked set for a lengthy coalition horse-trading after voters declined to bring in a clear majority. Less than a year ago, within five months in power, the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ)-led coalition government had broken down owing to a conflict of interest scandal. This is the second ballot which may lead to another coalition. Early today, the 60 per cent votes counted pointed to HDZ winning over 61 seats while opposition Social Democrats (SDP) having 54. The centre-right party Most (the Bridge) stood third with 13 seats. Securing a majority in the 151-seat parliament may be difficult for HDZ. A low voter turnout indicated that the Croatians had lost interest in the voting process following a year of political deadlock which blocked reforms. The economy needs to emerge from a six-year recession, with an unemployment rate of 13 per cent, public debt up to 85 per cent of GDP and deficient investment climate. The previous coalition made a significant shift to the right, attacking the Serbs and putting restrictions on the media which further strained its ties with Serbia. However, the HDZ is now banking on Andrej Plenkovic, a more moderate leader who could gain support from the Serbs, AFP noted. Former member of the European parliament Plenkovic vowed to move from extremism and populism to the center-right. "I'm certain that we are the party that will have the privilege to form the next stable Croatian government," Plenkovic said today. Former prime minister Zoran Milanovic and Plenkovic's rival, however, said, "It is too early to call the result." He also emphasised the need for a stable government, calling the previous government an "unstable and destructive one." (WION with inputs from agencies)

Conservatives take lead in Croatia's election

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Croatia: Milanovic's landslide victory in Presidential run-off

Croatia: Incumbent President Milanovic expected to win polls, says reports

Zoran Milanovic Expected To Return As Croatia President

Zoran Milanovic Expected To Return As Croatia President

Croatia Parliamentary Elections: After dominating politics for decades, PM's party loses support

Croatian President barred Zoran Milanović from running for PM

Croatia president blames poll defeat on sexism, 'fake news'

Conservatives take lead in Croatia's election