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All polls have revealed a close race between current president Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic of HDZ, SDP's Zoran Milanovic and the independent candidate Miroslav Shkoro. According to a recent poll by Croatian HRT, Kitarovic is the favorite with 28.3% and former Social Democrat Prime Minister Milanovic with 26.6%.
“When I won the election five years ago, the office of the President was in total chaos. Today, Croatia is better, but I'm not satisfied yet. I believe we can do more."
This was the call of current President Kitarovic to once again seek the post she holds. She has previously served as the country's foreign minister, ambassador in the US and assistant secretary-general for NATO diplomacy. Kitarovic won the Presidential election in January 2015 when she defeated the leftist candidate Ivo Josipovic.
"After my victory, the goal will be to win the confidence of those who didn't vote for me. I hope the people will vote for a normal Croatia."
This was the statement of the Social Democrat Zoran Milanovic at the latest election rally that also recognizes the political life in the country after serving as the country's prime minister in 2011-2015. His government collapsed as a result of the economic crisis that swept the country.
In this race is also Miroslav Skoro, a member of parliament since 2008. Unlike his two main rivals, he wants to change the constitution and reinforce the role of president. Convinced of his victory by over 50 percent of the vote, he addressed the electorate with the words: "I do not need a second round because I will win the majority in the first round, so we do not waste the money of the people."
The two winners with the highest percentage of votes will head to the January 5 runoff.