Milanovic received 1,117,751 votes, while Primorac garnered 379,201 votes, according to the data from 99.59% of polling stations published on the State Electoral Commission official website. Voter turnout was 44.17%.
"I perceive this as an endorsement of my work over the past five years, a step of trust in me… My hand is extended, it is my duty to those who represent the executive power in this country and who claim they are responsible for 99%, while the rest of us — for the remaining 1%," Milanovic told reporters at the election headquarters, thanking his supporters and asking for applause for the voters of the rival Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) party.
Voting took place on Sunday from 7:00 a.m. (06:00 GMT) to 7:00 p.m. at over 6,700 polling stations in Croatia and 105 locations in 38 other countries. A total of 3,769,598 people were eligible to vote, with 14,600 observers accredited.
Milanovic has often been labeled pro-Russian in Western media for his unwillingness to draw Croatia into NATO's proxy war with Russia.