Croatian presidential election heads to runoff

ZAGREB - Croatia's presidential election will head to a runoff on Jan 12 as no candidate secured more than half of the votes in Sunday's election, the Croatian State Election Commission (SEC) announced.

With 99.88 percent of votes counted, incumbent President Zoran Milanovic, backed by the largest opposition party, the Social Democratic Party, led the race with 49.10 percent, narrowly missing a first-round victory. His main challenger, Dragan Primorac of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union, garnered 19.35 percent, according to the SEC.

Under Croatian election law, if no candidate wins an outright majority, the top two contenders proceed to a runoff two weeks later.

Addressing his supporters, Milanovic expressed gratitude and confidence in securing victory. "I believe that in two weeks we will celebrate the victory," he said.

Primorac, speaking to his supporters, called the runoff "a great opportunity."

"Now a great opportunity is coming. Milanovic and I will be one on one, so we will see who knows what and represents what," he said. "Croatia needs changes, and in two weeks it will be a historic day."

The Croatian president serves a five-year term and can seek re-election once.