(ANSA-AFP) - ZAGREB, JAN 10 - Croatia votes in a presidential
runoff on Sunday, with the opposition-backed incumbent Zoran
Milanovic expected to win a second term, in a fresh blow to the
scandal-hit ruling party. The outspoken Milanovic won more than
49 percent of the vote in the first round of the election in
late December, narrowly missing an outright victory in the
contest by less than one percent. His main rival, Dragan
Primorac, garnered less than 20 percent of the ballots cast,
making it unlikely that he can make up ground in the runoff.
Primorac is backed by the ruling conservative HDZ party of Prime
Minister Andrej Plenkovic, which was hit last year by corruption
claims and survived a no-confidence vote in parliament. A
landslide win by Milanovic would be seen as further humiliation
for the beleaguered HDZ and Plenkovic, whom he has frequently
criticised for being too close to Brussels and for wanting too
much power. Despite its largely ceremonial role, many believe
the Croatian presidency is key to keeping the political balance
in the country. The vote comes as the European Union member
nation of 3.8 million people struggles with the highest
inflation rate in the eurozone, endemic corruption and a labour
shortage. (ANSA-AFP).
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