Leftist ex-PM Leads Narrowly in Croatian Presidential Election

Preliminary results of Croatia's presidential election on Sunday, after nearly 100 per cent of votes were counted, put Social Democratic candidate and former prime minister Zoran Milanovic in the lead with 29.55 per cent of votes cast.

The incumbent centre-right President, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, came second on 26.65 per cent. Miroslav Skoro, a right-wing independent and folk singer and former MP, came third on 24.43 per cent.

The president needs to be elected by 50 per cent plus one vote. Given that no candidate achieved that result, the second round will be held in two weeks, on January 5, 2020, pitting Milanovic against Grabar-Kitarovic. The outcome will be decided by who gets the votes that went to Skoro in the first round.

"Thanks to everyone who voted today, to those who voted for me and to those who did not vote for me," Milanovic said at his election headquarters. "We're going to the second round! But we're not going to war, the wars are over," he said, referring to one of his campaign slogans: "Normally, wars are over".

"I had a strong candidate in my political spectrum, unlike Zoran Milanovic. Let's go for the win," Grabar-Kitarovic said, referring to right-wing rival Skoro.

A total of 3.8 million people were eligible to vote, of which 3,677,904 have residency in Croatia. Votes cast outside Croatia - the last lot in Los Angeles - will be added around 4am.

According to the State Election Commission, the turnout was 51.17 per cent.

Grabar-Kitarovic, backed by the ruling Croatian Democratic Union, HDZ, has been President since February 2015.

A former foreign minister, ambassador to the United States and Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy at NATO, she won the presidential election in January...