Croatians vote to elect president, with runoff likely

Croatians are voting on Sunday to elect a new president, with incumbent Zoran Milanovic appearing set to come out on top according to opinion polls.

His likely main rival among the eight contenders for the largely ceremonial post is Dragan Primorac, backed by the conservative HDZ party that currently governs the country.

The election comes as the European Union and NATO member country of 3.8 million people struggles with biting inflation, corruption and a labor shortage.

Milanovic, backed by the left-wing Social Democrats party, is supported by 37 percent of the electorate while Primorac has 20 percent, according to an opinion poll released on Friday.

But as none of the candidates are expected to garner more than 50 percent of the vote to win outright, the new head of state is likely to be chosen in a runoff in two weeks.

"There will be two races," Milanovic told reporters after casting his ballot in downtown Zagreb, referring to the probable runoff.

During the campaign the two main rivals often traded insults, with Milanovic ridiculing Primorac as boring and as "fake as a 13-euro note".

Croatia's president commands the country's armed forces and has a say in foreign policy.

For many, the election is a continuation of the longstanding feud between two powerful politicians. 

Primorac, a 59-year-old physician and scientist returning to politics after 15 years, campaigned as a "unifier" promoting family values and patriotism.

Official results are due late on Sunday.