On January 12, 2025, Croatia opened approximately 6,700 polling stations at 07:00 local time for the presidential runoff election. Around 3.8 million voters are set to choose between the incumbent president, Zoran Milanovic, supported by the center-left opposition, and Dragan Primorac, the candidate from the ruling conservative HDZ party.
In the first round of voting two weeks prior, Milanovic received 49% of the votes, while Primorac secured 19%, leading among eight candidates. The voting will conclude at 19:00 local time (18:00 GMT), followed by initial projections based on exit polls.
Unofficial partial results from the electoral commission are expected to be released shortly after. Recent polls indicate that Milanovic may receive between 63% and 67% of the votes, while Primorac could achieve a maximum of 28%.
Milanovic, 58, previously served as prime minister from 2011 to 2015 and led the Social Democratic Party from 2007 to 2016. His presidency has shifted from progressive to more nationalist and euro-skeptical positions.
Primorac, 59, is a professor lacking significant political charisma and previously held the position of Minister of Science and Education from 2003 to 2009. He has pledged to strongly support the euro-Atlantic policies of the current government, which has been marred by corruption scandals.
The presidential role in Croatia, with a five-year term, is primarily ceremonial but also plays a part in foreign policy alongside the government and military leadership.