Zoran Milanović: Biography, Political Career and Croatia Presidency

By CreativeQuizzes Editorial Team

Who is Zoran Milanović?

Zoran Milanović is the President of Croatia. Born in Zagreb on October 30, 1966, he studied law at the University of Zagreb and later earned a master's degree in European Union law in Brussels. Croatia's presidency is the country's head-of-state office, while the government led by the prime minister handles most executive policy-making.

Milanović first became nationally prominent through the Social Democratic Party (SDP), which he led from 2007. He entered government as prime minister in December 2011 and remained in office until January 2016.

From diplomacy to prime minister

Before becoming a party leader, Milanović worked in Croatia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs beginning in 1993 and later worked on Croatia's European and international affairs. The official biography published by the President of the Republic also records earlier legal work and his postgraduate study in EU law.

As prime minister, Milanović led the government during Croatia's final preparations for European Union membership. Croatia became an EU member on July 1, 2013, during his term.

His first presidential term

Milanović won Croatia's 2019 presidential election and took office in February 2020. The presidency is constitutionally distinct from the prime minister's office, but the president has defined powers in areas including foreign policy, national security and the armed forces, which can put the office in direct political contact with the government.

During his first term, Milanović became a prominent critic of Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and the ruling HDZ. His public statements and positions on European affairs, NATO-related questions, the war in Ukraine and Croatia's role in international missions were frequently reported as sources of political disagreement.

The 2024–2025 presidential election

Milanović won the first round of Croatia's presidential election on December 29, 2024, with 49.09% of the vote. Because no candidate received more than half of the vote, he faced Dragan Primorac in the second round on January 12, 2025.

The final figures recorded by Croatia's national statistical office, citing the State Electoral Commission, were 1,122,859 votes for Milanović (74.68%) and 380,752 for Primorac (25.32%). Milanović began his second five-year term on February 18, 2025.

Major actions during 2026

In March 2026, Milanović ordered the withdrawal of Croatian Armed Forces personnel from missions in Iraq and Lebanon after the outbreak of a wider Middle East conflict. The President's office said the decision was based on the safety of Croatian service members and national interests. The office later reported that all Croatian personnel involved in the Iraq mission had been safely evacuated.

The episode illustrates one practical part of the presidency: the office has formal constitutional responsibilities connected with the Croatian armed forces. Milanović has also continued to use the presidency as a platform for public positions on foreign policy and international security, often setting out those views through statements from the President's office.

What is Milanović known for politically?

Milanović is known for direct and sometimes confrontational public rhetoric, as well as repeated disagreements with the Croatian government. His political positions have included criticism of aspects of EU policy, opposition to some forms of Western military support for Ukraine, and an emphasis on Croatian national interests in foreign-policy questions.

Those descriptions are matters of public record rather than a single universally accepted interpretation of his politics. His official presidential biography and statements are useful primary sources for his own positions, while election records and government documents provide a separate record of offices held and actions taken.

Milanović today

As of September 2026, Milanović is serving the second and final five-year term permitted to a Croatian president. His current presidency combines formal head-of-state responsibilities with a highly visible role in domestic political debate and foreign-policy discussion.

For readers trying to understand his career, the clearest starting points are his record as prime minister, his two presidential terms and the documented decisions issued by the President's office.