Croatia’s President Announces Surprise Bid Against Premier

  • Milanovic unexpectedly announces bid to face Plenkovic
  • Head of state announces candidacy after setting election date

Zoran Milanovic

Photographer: Mary Altaffer/Getty Images
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Croatian President Zoran Milanovic shook up the campaign for next month’s parliamentary election in the Balkan nation, saying he’ll lead the opposition Social Democrats to challenge Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic.

The surprise bid throws open the April 17 contest, since Milanovic — a former prime minister who was elected head of state in 2020 — remains one of the country’s most popular figures. He’s a bitter rival of Plenkovic, whose conservatives have led the polls as he sought a third term in office.