Critics claim that his public feuds with Prime Minister Andrej Plenković (who is also from HDZ), his cozying up to war criminals, and his promises to cut support for NATO and Ukraine have caused significant damage to the international reputation of the largely uncontroversial Balkan country.
Dragan Primorac from the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), was left trailing in second place with 19.35 percent of the vote. | Damir Sencar/Getty Images
The situation at home could not be more different. Videos of Milanović’s unfiltered press conferences and interviews often go viral on social media, and feature comments to the effect that politics is “a mere sensation” or that “I might qualify for the psychiatric ward, but only as head of the clinic.”
Analysts, however, believe the core of his appeal is his fierce rejection of the conservative HDZ, the country’s strongest party, which has dominated the political scene since Croatia gained independence following the breakup of socialist Yugoslavia in 1991.
“HDZ has governed Croatia since independence with two short interruptions only, leading state and national institutions for a very long time,” Bieber said.
“A lot of people are frustrated with the entrenchment and corruption of the party, and the sense that there is no political alternative.”
Meanwhile, Plenković, Milanović’s main opponent, is seen as a bookish Eurocrat whose decisions are pragmatic and predictable, and who consistently aligns himself with Brussels on domestic and foreign policy.
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Publish date : 2024-12-30 09:46:00
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The post Croatia’s firebrand president dominates election, poised for second term – POLITICO first appeared on Love Europe.
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Author : love-europe
Publish date : 2024-12-30 18:52:10
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