Croatia’s populist President Milanović secures landslide re-election win: Exit ballot

Croatia’s incumbent populist president Zoran Milanovic was re-elected, in line with an exit ballot that gave him a landslide victory over his conservative rival in Sunday’s run-off election.

The polls carried out by Ipsos polling company and revealed by state tv station HRT, mentioned Milanović gained almost 78% of the vote in comparison with his challenger Dragan Primorac, who gained round 22%.

Official outcomes had been anticipated later within the night.

The left-leaning Milanović comfortably gained the primary spherical of voting on Dec. 29, leaving Primorac, a forensic scientist who had unsuccessfully run for president beforehand, and 6 different candidates far behind.

“I hope for a victory,” Milanović mentioned after voting Sunday. “I imagine in victory as a result of I believe I’m price it and since it is necessary, primarily as a result of it is necessary.”

The runoff between the highest two contenders was needed as a result of Milanović fell wanting securing 50% of the vote by simply 5,000 votes, whereas Primorac trailed far behind with 19%.

The election comes because the European Union and NATO member nation of three.8 million folks struggles with biting inflation, corruption scandals and a labor scarcity.

Milanović, 58, is an outspoken critic of Western army assist for Ukraine in its conflict in opposition to Russia. He’s the most well-liked politician in Croatia, and is typically in comparison with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump for his combative type of communication with political opponents.