The first round of the presidential election held in Croatia on the 22nd of December has failed to produce a clear winner, as none of the candidates secured the over 50 per cent of the votes cast. The presidential election is now headed to a second-round slated for the 5th of January, 2020.
How Did the Election Go?
According to resultsreleased by the State Electoral Commission:
- Former Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic, a member of the leftist Social Democratic Party led in the first round, receiving 29.55 per cent of the votes.
- Conservative President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic backed by the ruling right-wing Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) trailed behind with 26.65 per cent of the votes cast.
- Miroslav Skoro, an independent candidate came in third with 24.45 per cent of the vote share.
- Voter turnout was 51.2 per cent.
The Left vs. The Right
Milanovic and President Grabar-Kitarovic will face off in the run-off vote. Although the presidency is a largely ceremonial role as the country is primarily run by the parliament, led by the Prime Minister. The election, however, serves as a popularity test for the main political parties in the country ahead of parliamentary elections next year.
The centre-left Social Democratic Party and the centre-right HDZ are the two biggest political parties in the country. While the ruling HDZ is looking to retain leadership ahead of Croatia’s first ascension of the EU’s rotating presidency and avoid discord between the head of state and government, and oversee the important task of Brexit, the Social Democrats are looking to make a comeback into government. The country joined the EU in 2013 under the reign of a leftist government.
President Grabar-Kitarovic now counts on the support of Skoro’s right-wing supporters. Although both Milanovic and the President are from parties from the different political spectrum, observerssay they represent similar stances.
