Page 12 - bne IntelliNews Southeastern Europe Outlook 2025

The outcome of the runoff on January 12 between Milanovic and Dragan Primorac, the candidate of the ruling right-wing Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) will most likely result in a victory for Milanovic, setting up another period of uneasy cohabitation and frequent public spats between Milanovic and Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic’s government.
Key issues on which the two have clashed include Nato-member Croatia’s policy on Ukraine. Milanovic’s critics have frequently accused him of being pro-Russian, and the president has spoken out against military aid to Ukraine. Croatia’s involvement in a Nato training mission for Ukraine sparked a series of political clashes in autumn 2024.
On April 17, 2024, Croatia held parliamentary elections that led to the HDZ securing a plurality of seats for the fourth consecutive time.To establish a governing majority, HDZ formed a coalition with the far-right Homeland Movement (Domovinski Pokret, DP), marking a notable shift in the nation's political dynamics. This alliance resulted in DP occupying three ministerial positions within the 18-member cabinet as Plenković embarked on his third term.
The HDZ also took the largest share of Croatia’s European Parliament seats in the June election, beating the Social Democratic Party (SDP), which is backing Milanovic for a second presidential term.
In November 2024, Croatia was jolted by the arrest of Health Minister Vili Beroš on corruption charges related to hospital procurement processes. The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) alleged involvement in bribery, abuse of power and money laundering. Plenković responded by promptly dismissing Beroš. However, the scandal was damaging for the HDZ, and has been exploited by Milanovic in his presidential campaign as he seeks to defeat Primorac and secure a second term.
1.5 Politics – Kosovo
The government of Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti is poised to become the first in Kosovo's history to complete a full term, and Kurti’s Vetevendosje party is currently leading in polls ahead of the parliamentary elections scheduled for February 9, 2025.
Since Kosovo's declaration of independence in 2008, all parliamentary elections have stemmed from internal political crises. However, Kurti anticipates a decisive victory for his centre-left Vetevendosje
12 SE Outlook 2025 www.intellinews.com