Presidential Elections in Croatia (2024–2025)

The eighth presidential election in Croatia began with the first round on 29 December 2024 and concluded with the second round on 12 January 2025. At the end of the process, incumbent President Zoran Milanović, supported by the Social Democratic Party (SDP), was re-elected president for a second term with 74.66 percent of the vote against his opponent Dragan Primorac. The elections have become a significant topic in Croatia’s political and social agenda and have attracted international attention.

Zoran Milanović, winner of the Croatian presidential election – Anadolu Agency

Election Process

Croatian presidential elections have been held every five years since 1990. The electoral system is based on the majority principle: a candidate must secure more than half of the valid votes to win. If no candidate achieves this majority in the first round, the two candidates with the highest number of votes proceed to a second round.

In the 2024–2025 elections, the first round was held on 29 December 2024. As no candidate secured an absolute majority, the election proceeded to a second round, which took place on 12 January 2025, concluding the electoral process. The election was conducted in accordance with the constitution under the supervision of the Croatian State Election Commission (DIP).

A total of 6,700 polling stations were established across Croatia for more than 3.7 million registered voters. Additionally, 105 voting centers were opened in 38 countries for Croatian citizens living abroad. Voters in the United States, Canada, Turkey, Germany and Australia cast their ballots through these centers.

Candidates and Campaign Process

A total of eight candidates participated in the 2024 presidential election. The field included candidates supported by political parties as well as independent candidates. The political platforms and campaign strategies of the candidates brought debates on Croatia’s domestic and foreign policy to the forefront.

Zoran Milanović

Zoran Milanović ran in the 2024 presidential election as the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). After graduating from the Faculty of Law at the University of Zagreb, he worked at the Zagreb County Court and joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1993. During this period, he served in Croatian missions to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the European Union (EU) and NATO.

Milanović served as Prime Minister of Croatia from 2011 to 2016 and was elected president in 2019. Throughout his term, he drew attention through his criticisms of government policies. During the 2024 campaign, he adopted an independent foreign policy stance and emphasized Croatia’s national interests. His opposition to sending Croatian troops to the Russia-Ukraine War won him significant voter support. Milanović emphasized constitutional responsibilities, asserting that the presidency is a duty-oriented office, not a position of power.

Dragan Primorac

Dragan Primorac ran in the 2024 presidential election as the candidate of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ). Born in 1965 in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Primorac received medical training and specialized in genetics. He served as Croatia’s Minister of Education from 2003 to 2009, during which he implemented various educational reforms and gained recognition for his academic work in health-related fields.

Primorac previously ran for president in 2009 as the HDZ candidate but was unsuccessful. In the 2024 election, he re-entered the race with a focus on strengthening Croatia’s foreign policy and international standing. During his campaign, he emphasized the need to enhance Croatia’s role within NATO and the European Union. He received 25.34 percent of the vote in the 2024–2025 elections, placing second.

Other Candidates

The election also featured candidates representing diverse political views: Ivana Kekin (Možemo), Miro Bulj (Most), Branka Lozo (Domovinski Pokret), Marija Selak Raspudić (independent), Tomislav Jonjić (independent), and Niko Tokić Kartelo (independent). These candidates raised issues such as social policies, education reform, traditional family values, and economic development.

Election Results

Artificial intelligence-generated graphs showing the results of the 2024–25 Croatian presidential election

First Round Results

In the first round held on 29 December 2024, Zoran Milanović received 49.1 percent of the vote, placing first. Dragan Primorac came second with 19.4 percent. Other candidates received the following votes: Marija Selak Raspudić with 9.27 percent and Ivana Kekin with 8.76 percent. As no candidate achieved a majority, the election moved to a second round.

Second Round Results

In the second round held on 12 January 2025, Zoran Milanović won decisively with 74.66 percent of the vote, defeating Dragan Primorac, who received 25.34 percent. Voter turnout in the second round was recorded at 44.15 percent, lower than the 46 percent turnout in the first round.

Election Debates and Key Issues

The 2024–2025 Croatian presidential election sparked various debates due to the differing approaches of the candidates on foreign policy and national security. Zoran Milanović argued that Croatia should not send troops to Ukraine and maintained that the country should not become involved in other nations’ wars. He also criticized Israel’s policies regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a stance that became prominent during the campaign. His opponent, Dragan Primorac, emphasized the need for a pro-Western policy and sought voter support by advocating for a stronger Croatian role within NATO and the European Union.

The low voter turnout rates—46.03 percent in the first round and 44.15 percent in the second—triggered discussions about the legitimacy of the electoral process. This decline in participation has been attributed to a lack of interest among young voters and the Croatian diaspora. The 105 voting centers established in 38 countries abroad provided opportunities for diaspora voters to participate.

The election process also brought to light tensions between the presidency and other state institutions. The prolonged power struggle between Milanović and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković frequently surfaced during the campaign and was interpreted as a competition between two contrasting governance philosophies. The election results have prompted varied assessments both nationally and internationally regarding Croatia’s democratic process.