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By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent
ZAGREB/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Croatian President Zoran Milanovic, a critic of the European Union and NATO aid to Ukraine, won the first round of presidential elections on Sunday. Still, he did not receive enough votes to avoid a runoff on January 12.
Election officials said Milanovic, backed by the opposition Social Democrats, won 49.1 percent support after ballots from all polling stations had been counted.
His primary challenger, Dragan Primorac – the candidate of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) – won 19.35 percent support.
Despite his rhetoric perceived as populist, Milanovic is seen by Croatian voters as a counterweight to the HDZ government, where
Thirty ministers had to resign for corruption allegations.
Official data showed that some 3.8 million Croatians could vote for eight presidential candidates, including three women, but less than half bothered to cast ballots.
Independent candidate Marija Selak Raspudic came third with 9.25 percent support.
Though the post of president is primarily ceremonial, he has a say in foreign policy, defense, and security matters.
Milanovic, known for his harsh criticism of the government, sent a reconciliatory message, saying he would offer a hand to the government during uncertainty. “My program offers everything that Croatia needs – unity, a better life, a care for the youth… a care for pensioners,” he said.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
A Dutch community remained in shock Saturday after a 13-year-old girl was detained following the discovery of her parents’ bodies in their home in the northern Netherlands.
Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz declared a 90-day state of emergency Saturday, empowering the military to clear road blockades after nearly 50 days of anti-government protests that have included widespread road blockades, leaving at least 14 people dead and crippling the nation’s economy.
A powerful thunderstorm system sweeping across Western Europe killed at least one person in the Netherlands, injured several others in Belgium and Germany, and caused widespread damage as nearly 190,000 lightning flashes illuminated the skies, authorities said Saturday.
Israeli strikes killed at least 10 people in Lebanon on Saturday despite a ceasefire that took effect hours earlier, officials said, with Israel claiming it was responding to attacks by the Iran-backed Hezbollah group.
Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah have agreed to a ceasefire that was to begin Friday afternoon, Worthy News learned.
At least 10 people, including four children, were injured in a Russian strike on Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region, Ukrainian authorities said Friday. In southern Ukraine, the State Emergency Service reported that one person was killed and four others were injured in a separate Russian attack on the Odesa region.
President Donald Trump signed the temporary peace deal with Iran ahead of schedule Wednesday at the Palace of Versailles in France, kicking off negotiations over a final nuclear deal.
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