Croatia’s populist President Zoran Milanović has announced his plans to seek re-election.
The post is largely ceremonial.
This announcement comes weeks after losing a bid for the premiership against his conservative rival, Andrej Plenković.
Milanovic appeared to make the announcement off the cuff, after being asked by reporters in the capital Zagreb when he would declare his candidacy.
Milanovic replied: “Right now.”
The 57-year-old, who will be seeking his second term as president, said support from the main opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP) would be vital to his campaign.
“I will need it for a number of reasons, including organisational support and to prevent theft,” he said.
The date for the presidential election has not been set yet but is anticipated to be in December. As of now, no other politicians have declared their candidacies.
Milanović won the presidency in January 2020 as the candidate for the Social Democratic Party (SDP). In recent years, he has increasingly used populist rhetoric in public discourse, frequently criticizing critics, rivals, and European Union officials.
Milanović consistently ranks high in popularity surveys in Croatia, despite facing criticism for his use of profanity in speeches and interviews.
He has been vocal in denouncing the European Union’s stance on Russia’s war against Ukraine, which led his rival Plenković to accuse him of holding “pro-Russian views.”
Earlier this year, Milanović surprised the nation by announcing intentions to challenge Plenković in parliamentary elections while serving as president.
However, Croatia’s top court subsequently prohibited him from leading a new government.
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