2024 Croatian presidential election explained

Presidential elections are scheduled to be held in Croatia in December 2024. with a second round in January 2025 if no candidate receives a majority.^[1] Incumbent president Zoran Milanović is eligible for a second term. His first term began on 19 February 2020 and will end on 18 February 2025.^[2]

Background

Presidential elections will be held in the super-election year of 2024 during which voters in Croatia had also voted for the Croatian Parliament in April and European Parliament in June.^[3]

The first round was planned for December 2024, but on 15 March 2024 incumbent president Zoran Milanović announced he would run as a candidate of the Social Democratic Party of Croatia (SDP) for the position of prime minister.^[4] During press conference he revealed his resignation as the president would come "after election victory" in the parliamentary election on 17 April 2024.^[5] In that case the first round could be held no later than 16 June 2024. However, the SDP coalition didn't win the elections, so Milanović continued to hold the office of president.

Electoral system

The president of Croatia is directly elected by secret ballot to a term of five years using the two-round system, with presidents limited to two full terms in office. The constitution requires that a presidential election be held no sooner than 60 days and no later than 30 days before the expiration of the incumbent president's term. An absolute majority (50% + 1 vote) of all votes cast (including invalid, blank and uncast ballots) is required to win in the first round. If no candidate receives a majority of the vote, a second-round is to be held fourteen days later, with the two candidates with the highest number of votes in the first round taking part. The candidate who receives the highest number of votes in the second round (a majority of valid votes cast) is declared the winner. If one of the candidates who has qualified for the second round were to withdraw their candidacy or die, the candidate with the next highest number of votes in the first round takes their place in the second round.^[6]

In order for a potential candidate to be allowed to contest the elections and have their name placed on the ballot, they must gather at least 10,000 signatures from eligible voters, with every signatory being permitted to give their signature to only one potential candidate. The timeframe for collecting the said number of signatures is set at twelve days, and after the expiry of this period potential candidates must submit them to the State Electoral Commission for verification.^[7]

Candidates

Declared candidates

• Zoran Milanović (independent, endorsed by SDP,^[8] HSS,^[9] NS-R,^[10] NPS^[11] and SU), incumbent president of Croatia (since 2020), Prime Minister (2011–2016)^{[12] [13] [14]}
• Mislav Kolakušić (PiP), former MEP (2019–2024),^[15] candidate for president in the 2019–20 Croatian presidential election
• Marija Selak Raspudić (independent), incumbent MP for electoral district I^{[16] [17]}
• Dragan Primorac (independent, endorsed by HDZ, HSU,^[18] HDS,^[19] HNP), former Minister of Science, Education and Sports (2003–2009),^[20] candidate for president in the 2009–10 Croatian presidential election
• Tomislav Jonjić (HSP), Croatian lawyer, diplomat, publicist, historian and politician^[21]
• Niko Tokić Kartelo (independent), Croatian businessman

Potential candidates

• (independent), MP for electoral district VI (2020–2024) and son of Siniša Glavašević^[22]
• Ivana Kekin (We Can!), MP for electoral district I and wife of Croatian punk rock musician Mile Kekin

Declined to be candidates

• Oleg Butković (HDZ), incumbent Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure^[23]
• Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović (independent), president of Croatia (2015–2020)^[24]
• Gordan Jandroković (HDZ), incumbent Speaker of the Croatian Parliament^[25]

Opinion polls

First round

Date	Polling Firm	Milanović	Stier	Primorac	Selak Raspudić	Kekin	Penava	Petrov	Kolakušić	Butković	Jandroković	Marić	Raspudić	Jonjić	Grabar-Kitarović	Medved	Undecided / none	Lead
	IPSOS	32.0	-	28.0	20.0	9.0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	13.0	4.0
data-sort-value="2024-07-30"	30 Jul 2024	Dragan Primorac (Ind.) officially announces his candidacy and endorsed by HDZ.
data-sort-value="2024-07-22"	22 Jul 2024	Marija Selak Raspudić (Ind.) officially announces her candidacy.
	Promocija plus	35.9	15.4	7.7	7.3	5.9	5.7	4.0	2.4	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	12.0	20.5
data-sort-value="2024-06-26"	26 Jun 2024	Zoran Milanović (incumbent president) officially announces his candidacy.
	Croelecto	34.0	3.1	-	-	-	-	-	-	16.4	10.1	8.9	8.8	3.5	1.2	1.0	13.1	17.6
data-sort-value="2024-06-26"	23 May 2024	Tomislav Jonjić (HSP) officially announces his candidacy.
data-sort-value="2024-06-26"	23 Apr 2024	Mislav Kolakušić (PiP) officially announces his candidacy.

Second round

Milanović vs Primorac

See also

• 2024 European Parliament election in Croatia
• 2024 Croatian parliamentary election

Notes and References

1. Web site: Election Calendar . State Electoral Commission of the Republic of Croatia.
2. Web site: Croatia . 2023-10-07 . www.fao.org.
3. Web site: 1 January 2024 . Superizborna godina za Hrvate: Birače očekuju europski, parlamentarni i predsjednički izbori . Super election year for Croats: European, parliamentary and presidential elections await voters . 16 March 2024 . Večernji list . hr.
4. Web site: 15 March 2024 . Milanović ide na izbore sa SDP-om: Bit će kandidat za premijera . Milanović is going to the elections with SDP: He will be a candidate for prime minister . 16 March 2024 . Dnevnik.hr . hr.
5. Web site: 15 March 2024 . Oglasio se Milanović nakon šokantne objave: Otkrio kada će odstupiti s mjesta predsjednika . Milanović spoke after the shocking announcement: Revealed when he will step down as president . 15 March 2024 . Dnevnik.hr . hr.
6. http://www.sabor.hr/ustav-republike-hrvatske Važniji propisi
7. Web site: 20 November 2014 . Bliže se predsjednički izbori! Ovo su datumi koje morate znati. . The presidential election is getting near! These are the dates you have to know. . 22 December 2018 . . hr.
8. Web site: Grbin potvrdio da će Milanović biti SDP-ov kandidat za predsjednika . Net.hr . 30 June 2024 . hr-HR . 29 June 2024.
9. Web site: 2024-07-02 . Jutarnji list - HSS podržao kandidaturu Milanovića u za još jedan mandat na Pantovčaku . 2024-07-02 . www.jutarnji.hr . hr-hr.
10. Web site: Čačićevi Reformisti dali podršku Milanoviću na izborima za predsjednika . . 30 June 2024 . hr.
11. Web site: Uzinić . Silvana . 1 July 2024 . Tko će podržati Milanovića i zašto u Saboru prijedlozi bivše ‘mostovke‘ ekspresno dolaze na dnevni red? . Who will support Milanović and why are the proposals of the former "mostovka" on the agenda in Parliament? . 5 July 2024 . Slobodna Dalmacija . hr.
12. Web site: Slobodna Dalmacija - Milanović sigurno ide na drugi mandat, neće se odreći mogućnosti da još jednom pobijedi HDZ. Tko bi mu mogao parirati?. 13 August 2023. slobodnadalmacija.hr. 8 December 2023.
13. Web site: VIDEO Zorana Milanovića novinari pitali planira li po novi mandat, pogledajte što im je odgovorio. Dnevnik.hr. 8 December 2023.
14. Web site: Milanović upravo objavio: "Idem na izbore, ovo su moji aduti" . dnevnik.hr . . 26 June 2024 . hr . 26 Jun 2024.
15. Web site: 23 April 2024 . Mislav Kolakušić kandidirat će se na predsjedničkim izborima: "Rekao je da više nema što raditi s Domovinskim pokretom" . Mislav Kolakušić will run in the presidential elections: "He said that he has nothing to do with the Homeland Movement anymore" . 23 April 2024 . Dnevnik.hr . hr.
16. Web site: Špoljar . Marko . 10 June 2024 . Nino Raspudić otkrio nam je planove: "Marija ide na Milanovića! Most? Samo se sjetite što je Božo rekao..." . Nino Raspudić revealed the plans to us: "Marija is going to Milanović! The Bridge? Just remember what Božo said..." . 10 June 2024 . Jutarnji list . hr.
17. Web site: Toma . Ivanka . 22 July 2024 . Selak Raspudić ekskluzivno za Jutarnji: ‘Kandidirat ću se za predsjednicu i pobijediti Milanovića‘ . Selak Raspudić exclusively for Jutarnji: 'I will run for president and defeat Milanović' . 23 July 2024 . Jutarnji list . hr.
18. Web site: Špiljak . Lucija . 1 August 2024 . HSU podržao kandidaturu Dragana Primorca: 'Postao je meta napada i omalovažavanja' . HSU supported Dragan Primorc's candidacy: 'He became the target of attacks and disparagement' . 1 August 2024 . tportal . hr.
19. Web site: 1 August 2024 . Zekanović podržao Primorca: On je čovjek koji može pobijediti Milanovića . Zekanović supported Primorac: He is the man who can defeat Milanović . 1 August 2024 . HRT . hr.
20. Web site: 31 July 2024 . VIDEO Dragan Primorac objavio kandidaturu za predsjednika, objavio i snimku, a već se pohvalio i web-stranicom . VIDEO Dragan Primorac announced his candidacy for the presidency, published a video, and already boasted about his website . 1 August 2024 . Večernji list . hr.
21. Web site: [//www.telegram.hr/politika-kriminal/poznati-odvjetnik-zeli-postati-predsjednik-cilja-na-birace-hdz-a-popularniji-sam-od-primorca-mozemo-se-kladiti/ Poznati osvjetnik želi postati predsjednik, cilja na birače HDZa: "Popularniji sam od Primorca, možemo se kladiti ]. telegram.hr . 7 July 2024.
22. Web site: Ljevica sigurna u odabir: Samo sin legende Domovinskog rata može biti ozbiljni protukandidat Milanoviću . direktno.hr . 4 April 2024.
23. Web site: Butković: 'U kampanji ću svakako sudjelovati, želimo da do kraja godine rezultat bude 3:0' . Butković: 'I will definitely participate in the campaign, we want the result to be 3:0by the end of the year'. vecernji.hr . Večernji list . 27 June 2024 . hr . 27 Jun 2024.
24. Web site: Šošić . Dajana . 28 June 2024 . IMA LI AMBICIJA? / Pitali smo Kolindu hoće li se kandidirati za predsjednicu. Odgovor je bio kratak . DOES SHE HAVE AMBITION? / We asked Kolinda if she would run for president. The answer was short . 5 July 2024 . net.hr . hr.
25. Web site: Vasilj . Iva . 28 June 2024 . Jandroković: Građani će izabrati nekog drugog umjesto Milanovića . Jandroković: Citizens will choose someone else instead of Milanović . 5 July 2024 . tportal.hr . hr.