Incumbent president wins run-off in a landslide

Incumbent President Zoran Milanović secured a second five-year mandate in a landslide victory in Sunday's run-off election. 

With just less than 100 percent of the vote counted, Zoran Milanović received more than 74.66% of the vote; while the HDZ challenger, Dragan Primorac, got 25.34%.

Milanović comfortably won the first round of voting on 29 December with 49% of the vote, which was just shy of an outright victory; while Primorac came in second place out of eight candidates with 19%.The president's chief of staff, Orsat Miljenić, said it was truly a "magnificent result".

"It's even greater than we had hoped. I think that citizens have sent a very clear message that they valued the work of President Milanović over the last five years. Primarily, the message is that he is an excellent commander-in-chief, that he cares about defence, and that he helped to shape the foreign policy and national security of this country.

He added that it was now up to the Plenković government to respect this powerful message from voters.

HDZ Deputy President Tomo Medved said voter fatigue was an issue since these were the third elections in nine months.

"I congratulate Dragan Primorac on his efforts and on everything he has done in trying to present his program. Unfortunately, it is obvious that his vision for the future of Croatia was not accepted by voters. However, one thing is certain, the HDZ-led government is still leading Croatia very strongly and firmly and we will continue to do so over the next three and a half years," said Medved.

International Secretary at the HDZ, Davor Božinović, believes that the second round of the presidential election showed the strength of Croatian democracy.

"He is not my choice, but what the citizens have decided must be respected," says Božinović about the results.

For his part, Dragan Primorac addressed visitors at his campaign headquarters and the public.

He thanked all those who voted and showed that they cared about their homeland. "Thank you from the bottom of my heart," said Primorac with a smile. He thanked his family and his team, as well as all those present, "for believing in me from the very beginning.

Primorac also thanked Croats outside Croatia for their love. "We are one nation, a proud nation, and we will remain so until the end. No one will divide us. I have done as much as possible so that the citizens get to know me. I have offered a vision of a better, different and proud Croatia. Some of our voters did not vote on the basis of the program or the vision, but that is the nature of democracy," he said.

"Thank God I endured everything, remained upright and true to my principles and values. On this occasion, I am sending a message to everyone: Croatia was and will remain my priority, dear friends," Primorac said.