Croatians go to the polls today to elect a president for the next five years, a vote the outgoing president is expected to win Zoran Milanovica fierce critic of the government.

Social Democrat (SDP) former Prime Minister, Mr Milanovicwho was elected president in 2020, leads the polls with 37% of voting intentions in the first round.

However, this percentage is not enough to be elected from tonight. According to a poll released yesterday, Friday, he is expected to face in the second round, on January 12, the Dragan Primorac (20% of voting intentions), supported by the Prime Minister’s ruling conservative party (HDZ) Andrei Plenkovic.

The elections are taking place against the background of significant inflation, widespread corruption and labor shortages.

Since its declaration of independence in 1991, Croatia has been governed primarily by the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ).

The president is head of the armed forces and represents this country of 3.8 million people, which is a member of the European Union and NATO, on the international stage. Although with limited powers, the president is considered a guarantor of stability and balance of powers.

Former leader of the SDP, which supported his new candidacy, and prime minister from 2001 to 2015, Milanović is one of the most popular politicians in the country.

He went from promising a “progressive, modern and open” Croatia at the start of his current term to a populist and often offensive rhetoric.

THE Milanovic denounced the Russian attack on Ukraine, criticizing the provision of Western military aid to Kiev.

This policy led to his being labeled as “pro-Russian” who “destroys Croatia’s credibility in NATO and the EU”.

Croatia has, however, provided aid to Ukraine, mainly military, amounting to 300 million euros.

The president says he wants to prevent Croatia from being “dragged into war” in Ukraine.

“As long as I am president, no Croatian soldier will go to fight other people’s wars,” he declared.

She blames him Plenkovic and his party on corruption, calling the prime minister “a serious threat to democracy in Croatia.”

On his part, Mr Primorats he campaigns by presenting himself as a “unifying” politician and by appealing to family values ​​and patriotism.

These elections will show “whether Croatia will turn to the East or the West (…) to division or unity,” he said.

Doctor, former Minister of Science and Education (2003-2009), accuses Milanovic of “slandering Croatia”.

The polls open at 07:00 local time (08:00 Greek time) and will close twelve hours later.

The exit poll they will be made public when the polling stations close and the official results will be announced in the evening.