Zagreb, 8 January 2025 (Hina/MIA) — Croatia's presidential candidates Zoran Milanović and Dragan Primorac held a debate on Tuesday on the public broadcaster ahead of Sunday's runoff, and in his opening statement Milanović urged voters to vote for him so that Croatia could become stronger, while Primorac accused him of dividing the country.

Milanović, the incumbent president supported by the Social Democratic Party and its partners, thanked voters for their support in the first round, in which he achieved a significantly better result than Primorac. He said he viewed this support as a great responsibility.

"I was surprised by it, and there is no reason or justification for any triumphalism... I invite everyone to vote, to use their democratic right, so that we can become a stronger and more powerful state. Because Croatia definitely has chances. Croatia will be better," Milanović said.

The presidential candidate supported by the ruling HDZ and its partners, Primorac, reminded viewers that he was a doctor and entrepreneur, emphasizing that he did not enter the presidential race "because he needed it," but because of Milanović.

"I entered this race for one reason only: I want to use my contacts, all the opportunities I have in key places around the world, for the benefit of my homeland. But one of the key reasons I entered the presidential race is Zoran Milanović."

Primorac said that, over the past few years, Milanović divided Croatia and, for the first time, caused it "not to function." "He privatized the army and globally positioned the country in such a way that Croatia was disgraced."

He believes the situation needs to be corrected over the next five years, "primarily for the Croatian people, primarily because of the legacy that Croatia has, and the Homeland War."

"Croatia is not an accidental state. It was created on the blood of Croatian veterans, and I will personally do everything to restore the reputation it has lost over the past five years," Primorac said.