ZAGREB: Voters in Croatia cast ballots on Sunday in a tight presidential election, with the ruling conservatives seeking to keep their grip on power days before the country takes over the European Union’s rotating presidency for the first time.

Some 3.8 million voters in the EU’s newest member were picking among 11 candidates, but only three were considered to be contenders in the election taking place on a rainy day during the holiday season.

Conservative incumbent Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic was seeking a second term, challenged by leftist former Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic and right-wing singer Miroslav Skoro.

Election authorities said turnout was higher than during the last election in 2014, with some 100,000 more voters having cast ballots by mid-afternoon despite bad weather.

Croatia’s presidency is largely ceremonial. The office holder formally commands the army and represents the country abroad. But retaining the post is important for the ruling Croatian Democratic Union party, whose government is set to assume the EU chairmanship on Jan 1.

The EU job will include overseeing Britain’s departure from the bloc, expected on Jan. 31, and the start of post-Brexit trade talks.

Grabar Kitarovic started off her campaign looking strong but her position weakened after a series of gaffes. She was still believed to have a slight lead going into the election, followed closely by Milanovic. Skoro was trailing in third place.

We are deciding in which direction Croatia will go, Grabar Kitarovic said upon voting in Zagreb, the capital. The 51-year-old incumbent is known for flirting with the extreme right while seeking also to portray herself as a peoples’ president.

Published in Dawn, December 23rd, 2019