ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) 鈥 Croatia鈥檚 incumbent President Zoran Milanovic won most of the votes in the first round of a presidential election on Sunday, but must face a runoff against a ruling party candidate to secure another five-year term.
With nearly all of the votes counted, left-leaning Milanovic won 49% while his main challenger Dragan Primorac, a candidate of the ruling conservative HDZ party, trailed far behind with 19%.
Pre-election polls had predicted that the two would face off in the second round on Jan. 12, as none of the eight presidential election contenders were projected to get more than 50% of the vote.
Milanovic thanked his supporters but warned 鈥渢his was just a first run.鈥
鈥淟et鈥檚 not be triumphant, let鈥檚 be realistic, firmly on the ground,鈥 he said. 鈥淲e must fight all over again. It鈥檚 not over till it鈥檚 over.鈥
Milanovic is in its war against Russia. He is often compared to Donald Trump for his combative style of communication with political opponents.
The most popular politician in Croatia, 58-year-old in the past. Populist in style, he has been a fierce critic of current Prime Minister and continuous sparring between the two has lately marked Croatia鈥檚 political scene.
Plenkovi膰, the prime minister, has sought to portray the vote as one about Croatia鈥檚 future in the EU and NATO. He has labeled Milanovi膰 鈥減ro-Russian鈥 and a threat to Croatia鈥檚 international standing.
鈥淭he difference between him and Milanovi膰 is quite simple: Milanovi膰 is leading us East, Primorac is leading us West,鈥 he said.
Though the presidency is largely ceremonial in Croatia, an elected president holds political authority and acts as the supreme military commander.
Milanovi膰 has criticized the NATO and and has often insisted that Croatia should not take sides. He has said Croatia should stay away from global disputes, though it is a member of both NATO and the EU.
Milanovi膰 has also blocked Croatia鈥檚 participation in a NATO-led training mission for Ukraine, declaring that 鈥渘o Croatian soldier will take part in somebody else鈥檚 war.鈥
His main rival in the election, Primorac, has stated that 鈥淐roatia鈥檚 place is in the West, not the East.鈥 His presidency bid, however, has been marred by a high-level corruption case that and featured prominently in pre-election debates.
During the election campaign, Primorac has sought to portray himself as a unifier and Milanovi膰 as divisive.
Primorac was upbeat despite such a big defeat in the first round.
鈥淚 know the difference (in votes) at first sight seems very big,鈥 said Primorac, who insisted that the center-right votes had split among too many conservative candidates.
鈥淣ow we have a great opportunity to face each other one on one and show who stands for what,鈥 he said.
Sunday鈥檚 presidential election is Croatia鈥檚 third vote this year, following a parliamentary election in April and the European Parliament balloting in June.
