Constitutional Court Rules Zoran Milanovic Cannot Become Prime Minister Without Resigning as President

The Constitutional Court of Croatia has made a landmark ruling that President Zoran Milanovic cannot take up the position of Prime Minister following this week’s parliamentary elections. The court stated that Milanovic, who campaigned to become the prime minister, did not first step down as president as required by the constitution.

President Milanovic had dissolved parliament in March and announced his candidacy for prime minister, despite warnings from the Constitutional Court that he must resign from his current position before running for another. The court’s decision has effectively barred Milanovic from becoming the prime minister-designate.

The ruling comes after a contentious election campaign between Milanovic and the conservative incumbent, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic. The ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) won the most seats in the election but fell short of a majority, leading to the need for coalition-building.

The situation in Croatia remains uncertain, with President Milanovic’s next steps unclear. He has accused Prime Minister Plenkovic of orchestrating a coup d’etat and has vowed to uphold the will of the people. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Plenkovic is working to form a new parliamentary majority with his party.

As Croatia navigates the aftermath of the election, the SDP and other parties are also working to secure a majority in parliament. The final election results are expected to be delayed due to irregularities in two polling stations.

The decision of the Constitutional Court has thrown the political landscape of Croatia into turmoil, setting the stage for further negotiations and potential shifts in power. The country’s future government remains uncertain as parties jockey for position in the wake of the court’s ruling.