Croatia's incumbent president gains most votes for re-election, but not enough to avoid a runoff
apnews.com
Croatia’s incumbent President Zoran Milanovic has swept most votes in the first round of a presidential election, but will have to face a runoff against a ruling party candidate to secure another five-year term.

Milanovic won 49.1 percent of the first round vote and Primorac, backed by the ruling conservative HDZ party, took 19.35 percent, according to results released by the state electoral commission from nearly all of the polling stations.

But he used the office to attack political opponents and EU officials, often with offensive and populist rhetoric.

Milanovic, who condemned Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, has nonetheless criticised the West’s military aid to Kyiv.

Edit: link replaced as initial seems to be gone now.

    • Rokin@lemm.eeEnglish
      2·
      8 days ago

      I did not read it like that. Seems like a pretty neutral article to me, mostly listing facts about both of them.

      Despite the HDZ’s backing, Primorac has been unable to rally the party’s base behind his campaign.

      I feel like even HDZ does not want Primorac to win. For one, he was kicked out of the party in 2009 (the article does not mention that). Also, if HDZ does not win the presidential election, they have more leverage for being re-elected in the more important parliament elections.

      • maptoOPM
        2·
        7 days ago

        Then it’s just me thinking that a “scientist” is better than “populist” :) I did read it in the light of this comparison.