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EU chair Croatia votes in tight presidential runoff Croatia holds tight presidential runoff between right, left
(about 5 hours later)
ZAGREB, Croatia — Voters in Croatia on Sunday cast ballots to choose a new president in a fiercely contested runoff race, with a liberal opposition candidate challenging the conservative incumbent while the country presides over the European Union during a crucial period. ZAGREB, Croatia — Voters in Croatia were casting ballots Sunday to choose a new president in a fiercely contested runoff, with a liberal opposition candidate challenging the conservative incumbent while the country presides over the European Union for the first time.
Croatia took over the EU’s rotating presidency on Jan. 1. for the first time since joining the bloc in 2013. This means that the EU’s newest member state will be tasked with overseeing Britain’s divorce from the union on Jan. 31 and the start of post-Brexit talks. Croatia took over the EU’s rotating presidency on Jan. 1. for the first time since joining the bloc in 2013. This means that the EU’s newest member state will be tasked for six months with overseeing Britain’s divorce from the EU on Jan. 31 and the start of post-Brexit talks.
Sunday’s runoff presidential vote is expected to be a very tight and unpredictable race. Sunday’s presidential runoff is expected to be a very tight, unpredictable vote.
It’s being held because none of the candidates won more than half of the votes in the first round on Dec. 22. Current President Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic is running for a second term, challenged by leftist former Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic. President Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic is running for a second term, challenged by leftist former Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic, the top two contenders after the first round of voting on Dec. 22.
Milanovic won slightly more votes than Grabar Kitarovic in the first round but analysts have warned there is no clear favorite in the runoff and that each vote counts. There are 3.8 million voters in Croatia, a country of 4.2 million that is also a member of NATO. Milanovic won slightly more votes than Grabar Kitarovic in the first round but analysts say there’s no clear favorite in the runoff. There are 3.8 million voters in Croatia, a country of 4.2 million that is also a member of NATO.
The two candidates represent the two main political options in Croatia: Grabar Kitarovic is backed by the governing, conservative Croatian Democratic Union, a dominating political force since the country split from the former Yugoslavia in 1991, while Milanovic enjoys support from the leftist Social Democrats and their liberal allies. The two candidates represent the two main political options in Croatia. Grabar Kitarovic is backed by the governing, conservative Croatian Democratic Union, a dominating political force since the country split from the former Yugoslavia in 1991, while Milanovic enjoys support from the leftist Social Democrats and their liberal allies.
Even though the presidency is largely ceremonial in Croatia, Sunday’s election is important as a test ahead of parliamentary elections expected later this year. Milanovic’s victory over Grabar Kitarovic would rattle the conservative government during the crucial EU presidency and weaken its grip on power in an election year. Even though Croatia’s presidency is largely ceremonial, Sunday’s election is an important test ahead of a parliamentary election expected later this year. Milanovic’s victory over Grabar Kitarovic would rattle the conservative government during the crucial EU presidency and weaken its grip on power in an election year.
While starting out stronger, support for Grabar Kitarovic had been slashed following a series of gaffes in the election campaign. Upon voting in the capital of Zagreb, Milanovic said the presidential election was a first step toward changes.
The 51-year-old had a career in diplomacy and in NATO before becoming Croatia’s first female president in 2015. Going into the runoff vote, Grabar Kitarovic evoked the Croatian unity during the 1991-95 war in a bid to attract far-right votes to her side. “This is important, everyone should come out to vote, virtually everyone,” Milanovic said. “The election is not a clash with anyone but an attempt to create a normal Croatia.”
The 53-year-old Milanovic is leading the struggling liberals’ bid to regain clout in the predominantly right-leaning nation. Grabar Kitarovic said “today we decide what Croatia will look like in the next several years.”
Prone to populist outbursts while prime minister, Milanovic lost popularity after the ouster of his government in 2016. He now says he has learned from the experience and matured. Milanovic has urged the voters to give him a chance to surprise them. “Each person is important, each vote is important,” she said. “Let’s build together a Croatia that will look forward and not back.”
Though a member of the EU, Croatia is still coping with graft and economic woes, partly because of the consequences of the 1991-95 conflict that erupted because of Croatia’s decision to leave the Serb-led Yugoslav federation. The Catholic Church plays an important role in the society. Support for Grabar Kitarovic has ebbed following a series of gaffes in the election campaign. The 51-year-old had a career in diplomacy and in NATO before becoming Croatia’s first female president in 2015. Going into the runoff, Grabar Kitarovic evoked Croatia’s unity during the 1991-95 war in a bid to attract far-right votes.
The 53-year-old Milanovic is hoping to regain some clout for liberals in the predominantly conservative nation where the Catholic church holds significant influence.
Prone to populist outbursts while prime minister, Milanovic lost popularity after the ouster of his government in 2016. He now says he has learned from the experience and matured.
Although Croatia is a member of the EU, it still has corruption problems and economic woes, issues not resolved since its devastating 1991-95 war to break free of the Serb-led Yugoslav federation.
Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.