Croatian Leader Who Doubts Ukraine Aid Wins First-Round Vote
- Milanovic heads to Jan. 12 presidential runoff with easy win
- President has clashed with prime minister over Ukraine, NATO
Zoran Milanovic casts a ballot at a polling station during the presidential elections in Zagreb on Dec. 29.
Source: AFP/Getty Images
This article is for subscribers only.
Croatian President Zoran Milanovic took a big step toward reelection with a first-round victory on Sunday, strengthening his role as a populist leader who has opposed NATO expansion and condemned military aid to Ukraine.
Milanovic, a 58-year-old former prime minister, took 49.1% of the presidential vote with more than 99% of ballots counted, making him the favorite in a Jan. 12 runoff with Dragan Primorac, a former science minister who got 19.4%.