Zoran Milanović's Address: A Narrow but Fair Victory, I am a Happy Man

ZAGREB, (Patria) - There is a celebratory atmosphere in Zoran Milanović's headquarters. The attendees were greeted by SDP President Davor Bernardić, who thanked everyone who supported Milanović in the presidential election. 

“I want to thank all the citizens who chose hope over fear, the future over the past, who chose a normal Croatia over a Croatia of divisions. You are part of that better and more successful Croatia. Today I am proud because this is a victory for Zoran Milanović, the SDP, and our partners. I believe we will make a turnaround,” said Bernardić.

After 99.68% of polling stations have been processed, Milanović has 1,033,071 votes, and Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović has 927,081 votes.

Those gathered at the Tvornica venue in Zagreb greeted the President of Croatia with thunderous applause and ovations. 

“Welcome to the factory of victories. Thank you to everyone, both those who supported me and those who did not. Thank you to my opponent Kolinda Grabar Kitarović. The campaign was difficult, long, and not always fair. Politics is a passionate job. If I have offended anyone, if I have said something untrue, it was not intentional. I will start working tomorrow. The citizens of Croatia have elected me as the president of the Croatian republic, of all Croats and those who are not. I fought for the truth, but it is often in the eye of the beholder. I know that I was not to everyone's liking and that there are still many people today who did not want me to become president. When I talk about divisions and unity, you will not hear sweet talk from me. What I will strive for is not to hurt anyone, to engage in dialogue, aware that there are many of us, with different prejudices, to which I am not immune, being an ordinary human being. I will be the same president as I was during the campaign. I hope I will not betray the trust you have given me. These four million of us are looking for our place under the sun, a place in Europe, and we are part of that continent, the most peaceful project in which Croatia should find its peace. I will cooperate with whoever truly leads this country. I know what a president can and cannot do. For me, all parties will be the same on a formal legal level. It is not perfect, but there is nothing better. Everything else is a path to autocracy, arbitrariness, plunder, and the president must be a bulwark against that,” said Milanović.  

Milanović thanked everyone who voted. 

“Measure me from day one, I haven't made grand promises. If I am known for anything, it is for not making unrealistic promises. I will not divide Croatian citizens on the issues that hurt them. Some things should not be said or should be said differently,” he said. 

He added that if his narrow but fair victory has brought a little joy to people, then he is a happy man.