Zoran Milanović

His father, Stipe Milanović (1937–2019), was an economist, and his mother, Đurđica "Gina" ({{née|Matasić}}), a former teacher of English and German.{{cite news|title=Milanović – Od fakina iz kvarta do šefa Banskih dvora|url=http://www.vecernji.hr/parlamentarni-izbori-2011/milanovic-od-fakina-iz-kvarta-do-sefa-banskih-dvora-352579|newspaper=Večernji list|access-date=29 May 2014}} His paternal family hails from the Sinj environs.{{cite web|title=Zoran Milanović: Moj deda je bio ustaša!|publisher=Novosti|url=http://www.novosti.rs/vesti/planeta.300.html:620228-Zoran-Milanovic-Moj-deda-je-bio-ustasa}} He stated that his father's family roots going back a century or two are from Livno, Bosnia and Herzegovina.{{cite web|url=http://ba.n1info.com/Vijesti/a402358/Milanovic-se-nasmijao-na-konstataciju-novinara-o-broju-glasova-iz-BiH.html|title=Milanović se nasmijao na konstataciju novinara o broju glasova iz BiH | N1 BA|website=ba.n1info.com|date=7 January 2020|access-date=10 December 2020}} His paternal grandfather and paternal great-uncle, Ante and Ivan Milanović, respectively, from Glavice, joined the Yugoslav Partisans in 1942, taking part later in the liberation of Trieste. His maternal family Matasić is an old Senj bourgeois family, with some distant roots in Lika, Gacka valley. His maternal grandmother and grandfather were Marija ({{nee|Glavaš}}) and Stjepan Matasić, respectively. Their daughter Đurđica, Milanović's mother, was born and raised in Senj with three other siblings. Stjepan Matasić was killed in 1943 when the Allies bombed German-occupied Senj. Marija then moved with her children to Sušak, where she met Petar Plišić, a blacksmith from Ličko Lešće, whom she married and moved together with him to Zagreb, where they raised Đurđica and the rest of her siblings. Plišić, was—as Milanović revealed in 2016—an Ustasha, a member of the paramilitary corps established by the Nazi-collaborationist government of the Independent State of Croatia. After World War II, he served two years in Stara Gradiška prison before being released.{{cite web|title=Tko je Milanovićev djed ustaša kojeg je tek sada otkrio|first=Robert |last=Bajruši|date=14 August 2016|url=http://www.jutarnji.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/tko-je-milanovicev-djed-ustasa-kojeg-je-tek-sada-otkrio/4612676/}}{{Cite web |date=2022-01-05 |title=Iako joj je sin predsjednik, Đurđica Milanović uspješno bježi od očiju javnosti. Djetinjstvo joj nije bilo lako, a godinama je od Zorana krila veliku obiteljsku tajnu |url=https://slobodnadalmacija.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/iako-joj-je-sin-predsjednik-durdica-milanovic-uspjesno-bjezi-iz-ociju-javnosti-djetinjstvo-joj-nije-bilo-lako-a-godinama-je-od-zorana-krila-veliku-obiteljsku-tajnu-1156983 |access-date=2022-06-09 |website=Slobodna Dalmacija |language=hr-hr |author=PSD }}

Zoran's father was a member of the League of Communists of Yugoslavia (SKJ). Milanović was baptized secretly by his maternal grandmother Marija at the Church of St. Peter and Paul in Zagreb, and given the baptismal name Marijan. He was brought up in the neighbourhoods of Knežija, and after 1970 in Trnje. He had a brother, Krešimir, who died in 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.jutarnji.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/umro-je-brat-zorana-milanovica-nakon-duge-i-teske-bolesti-preminuo-je-u-49-godini-9387491|title=UMRO JE BRAT ZORANA MILANOVIĆA Nakon duge i teške bolesti preminuo je u 49. godini|work=Jutarnji list|date=21 September 2019|access-date=16 March 2021|language=hr-HR}} Milanović attended the Center for Management and Judiciary from 1981.[http://www.javno.com/hr/hrvatska/clanak.php?id=49361 Javno – Hrvatska] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070803020940/http://www.javno.com/hr/hrvatska/clanak.php?id=49361 |date=3 August 2007 }}, javno.com; accessed 15 April 2015. Milanović partook in sports, including football, basketball and boxing. He declared himself as a leftist. In 1985, he entered the University of Zagreb to study law, then finished his military service, and returned to study in 1986. There is evidence that Milanović too joined the League of Communists of Yugoslavia in 1985.[https://faktograf.hr/2020/01/24/pronasli-smo-milanovicevu-pristupnicu-komunistickoj-partiji-u-drzavnom-arhivu-izabrani-predsjednik-tvrdi-da-je-krivotvorena/ Pronašli smo Milanovićevu pristupnicu komunističkoj partiji u Državnom arhivu. Izabrani predsjednik tvrdi da je krivotvorena ][https://www.jutarnji.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/hdz-objavio-dokument-o-milanovicevom-primanju-u-partiju-titov-gardist-i-vrhovni-lazljivac-15154116 HDZ objavio dokument o Milanovićevom primanju u partiju: 'Titov gardist i vrhovni lažljivac!' ][https://www.telegram.hr/politika-kriminal/kakav-show-hdz-na-fejsu-objavio-milanovicevu-pristupnicu-partiji-on-tvrdi-da-je-krivotvorina/ Kakav show. HDZ na fejsu objavio Milanovićevu pristupnicu Partiji, on tvrdi da je krivotvorina]

After college, Milanović became an intern at the Zagreb Commercial Court, and in 1993 for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, working under future political rival Ivo Sanader. A year later, he joined an OSCE peacekeeping mission in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, disputed between Armenian natives and Azerbaijan.[http://www.zivotopis.hr/biografija/zoran-milanovic Zoran Milanović profile] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120124113754/http://www.zivotopis.hr/biografija/zoran-milanovic |date=24 January 2012 }}, zivotopis.hr; accessed 15 April 2015. In 1994, he married his wife Sanja Musić, with whom he has two sons: Ante Jakov, and Marko.{{cite web|url=http://www.aktual.hr/clanak/hrvatska/730/sanja-milanovic-17-godina-uz-zorana-milanovica|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130412222939/http://www.aktual.hr/clanak/hrvatska/730/sanja-milanovic-17-godina-uz-zorana-milanovica|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 April 2013|title=Sanja Milanović: 17 godina uz Zorana Milanovića|language=hr|date=29 November 2011|access-date=5 February 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://www.vecernji.hr/izbori/premijerova-supruga-samozatajna-je-lijecnica-majka-clanak-353079|title=Premijerova supruga samozatajna je liječnica i majka|work=Večernji.hr|access-date=23 January 2016}} Apart from Croatian, he speaks English, French, and Russian.{{citation needed|date=October 2016}}

Milanović is a fan of the Croatian football club Hajduk Split.[https://slobodnadalmacija.hr/sport/hajduk/milanovic-bacio-bombu-u-eter-a-evo-za-koga-navija-ja-kad-sam-gorio-za-hajduk-on-je-bio-jak-klub-iz-malog-grada-1372570 Milanović bacio 'bombu' u eter, a evo za koga navija: Ja kad sam gorio za Hajduk, on je bio jak klub iz malog grada][https://dalmatinskiportal.hr/vijesti/stankovic-ostao-u-cudu-milanovic-navijac-hajduka--nisam-znao-/198097 STANKOVIĆ OSTAO U ČUDU: 'Milanović navijač Hajduka?! Nisam znao']

In 1999, he joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP) as he had not yet been an official member. Following SDP's win in the 2000 elections, he was given responsibility for liaison with NATO; three years later he became assistant to Foreign Minister Tonino Picula. He left his post after the 2003 elections when the conservative Croatian Democratic Union came to power. As an SDP member, in 2004 he renounced his position as an assistant minister of foreign affairs and became a member of the newly founded SDP's executive committee as well as the International Secretary in charge of contacts with other political parties. Two years later, he briefly became party spokesman, standing in for absent Gordana Grbić. In early September 2006 he became SDP's coordinator for the 4th constituency in the 2007 elections.

An extraordinary party convention was held in Zagreb on 2 June 2007, due to 11 April resignation of the first party president and Croatia's former prime minister Ivica Račan. Milanović entered the contest, despite being considered an "outsider", because of his shorter term in the party, running against Željka Antunović (acting party president since Račan's resignation), Milan Bandić and Tonino Picula. On 29 September 2007, during the campaign for party president, he publicly promised to resign and never to seek presidency of the party again, if the party did not win more seats than HDZ in next elections.{{cite web|url=http://www.24sata.hr/politika/milanovic-obecao-ostavku-ako-ne-pobijedi-sanadera-61860|title=Milanović obećao ostavku ako ne pobijedi Sanadera|date=9 May 2008 |publisher=24sata.hr|access-date=23 January 2016}} In the first round he led with 592, well ahead of his nearest rival, Željka Antunović.{{cite web|url=http://www.nacional.hr/articles/view/34990/|publisher=Nacional (weekly)|title=Uskoro rezultati izbora za predsjednika SDP-a|trans-title=SDP presidency election results to follow soon|language=hr|date=2 June 2007|first1=Marijana|last1=Zrinjski|first2=Goran|last2=Jurić|archive-date=17 July 2012|access-date=30 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717003606/http://www.nacional.hr/clanak/34990/uskoro-rezultati-izbora-za-predsjednika-sdp-a|url-status=dead}} He won the second round, thereby becoming president of the party.{{cite web|url=https://www.jutarnji.hr/naslovnica/zoran-milanovic-novi-predsjednik-sdp-a-3778893|title=Zoran Milanović novi predsjednik SDP-a!|date=2 June 2007|work=Jutarnji list|language=hr|access-date=28 September 2020}}

{{Main|2007 Croatian parliamentary election}}

The 2007 parliamentary election turned out to be the closest election since independence with SDP winning 56 seats, only 10 mandates short of HDZ's 66. 5 seats that HDZ had won were from the eleventh district reserved for citizens living abroad, which was one of the main campaign issues of SDP which sought to decrease electoral significance of the so-called diaspora voters. The resulting close race left both sides in a position to form a government, provided they could gather 77 of the 153 representatives. After the election, Sanader seemed to be in a better position to form a cabinet which caused Milanović to make himself the candidate for prime minister over the less popular Ljubo Jurčić, without first consulting the party's Main Committee. However, the Social Democrats remained in the Opposition, since Ivo Sanader managed to form a majority coalition.{{citation needed|date=April 2015}}

After losing the hotly contested general elections, Milanović did not resign as party president, despite promising before the election that he would, should the party lose. In the 2007 election, despite the loss, SDP emerged with the largest parliamentary caucus in their history and achieved their best result yet. Milanović seemed to be in a good position to remain party president and announced he would run for a first full term as party president. In the 2008 leadership election he faced Davorko Vidović and Dragan Kovačević, but emerged as the winner with almost 80 percent of the delegate vote.{{citation needed|date=April 2015}}

File:Plan 21.png for the 2011 election]]

With 56 seats won, SDP emerged from the 2007 election as the second largest party in Parliament and the largest party that is not a part of the governing majority. This made Milanović the unofficial leader of the opposition. Milanović was very critical of the Sanader administration, especially concerning their handling of the economy and the fight against corruption.

In September 2008, Milanović made a highly publicized visit to Bleiburg to commemorate the victims of the Yugoslav Communists.[http://dnevnik.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/milanovic-na-bleiburgu-ja-sam-tu-zbog-zrtava-a-ne-zbog-propalih-rezima.html Milanović na Bleiburgu: "Ja sam tu zbog žrtava, a ne zbog propalih režima"], Dnevnik.hr; accessed 15 April 2015. This made him the second leader of the Social Democratic Party of Croatia to visit the site, the first being Ivica Račan.

The 2009 local elections were held on 17 and 31 May and resulted in the Social Democrats making considerable gains in certain traditionally HDZ-leaning cities and constituencies, such as Dubrovnik, Šibenik, Trogir and Vukovar, as well as retaining such major traditionally SDP-leaning cities as Zagreb, Varaždin and Rijeka.{{cite web|url=http://www.nacional.hr/clanak/60145/ponovljeni-izbori-sdp-dobio-sibenik-i-trogir|title=Ponovljeni izbori: SDP dobio Šibenik i Trogir|date=15 June 2009|work=Nacional|language=hr|access-date=2 December 2009|trans-title=Repeated vote: SDP wins Šibenik and Trogir|first=Martina|last=Čizmić|archive-date=13 June 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613171742/http://www.nacional.hr/clanak/60145/ponovljeni-izbori-sdp-dobio-sibenik-i-trogir}}

On 1 July 2009, Ivo Sanader announced he was resigning the premiership and leaving his deputy Jadranka Kosor as prime minister. Parliament approved her and the new cabinet which made Kosor the first Croatian woman ever to be appointed prime minister.{{cite web|url=http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-40733720090701|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090705120223/http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-40733720090701|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 July 2009|title=Croatia's PM Sanader resigns, quits politics|date=1 July 2009|work=Reuters|access-date=2 December 2009}} Since late 2008, the SDP had been leading the polls, however by a narrow margin. After the sudden resignation of Sanader HDZ plummeted in the polls to their lowest level since 1999 when corruption scandals were rocking the party establishment.{{cite web|url=http://dnevnik.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/sokantni-rezultati-istrazivanja-sdp-potukao-hdz.html|title=Nikad veća razlika: SDP 'potukao' HDZ|date=1 August 2009|work=Nova TV|language=hr|access-date=2 December 2009}} Milanović insisted the resignation of the prime minister means that an early general election was necessary. The governing majority refused to dissolve Parliament and insisted that the Kosor cabinet would finish the remainder of its term.

File:Kukuriku.jpg, Radimir Čačić and Silvano Hrelja announcing the formation of the Kukuriku coalition, 15 July 2011]]

In 2008 the country's accession to the European Union was deadlocked with the Slovenian blockade over a border dispute. Sanader and his Slovenian counterpart Borut Pahor were unable to settle their differences in the following months which meant Croatia's accession to the European Union was in a standstill. There was much speculation, since Sanader had not given a reason for his departure, whether the Slovenian blockade was the cause for his resignation. In the following months Kosor and Pahor met several times, trying to resolve the border dispute. The negotiations resulted in an agreement which led to the continuation of negotiations for the Croatian accession to the European Union. The solution was an Arbitration Agreement{{cite news|url=http://www.vlada.hr/en/naslovnica/novosti_i_najave/2009/listopad/predsjednica_vlade_s_predsjednikom_vlade_republike_slovenije_borutom_pahorom|title=Premiers Kosor, Pahor say two countries at watershed, politics must find solutions|date=26 October 2009|publisher=Croatian Government|access-date=4 November 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927013810/http://www.vlada.hr/en/naslovnica/novosti_i_najave/2009/listopad/predsjednica_vlade_s_predsjednikom_vlade_republike_slovenije_borutom_pahorom|archive-date=27 September 2011}} which was signed in Stockholm on 4 November 2009, by both countries' prime ministers and the Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt.{{cite news|url=http://www.vlada.hr/en/naslovnica/novosti_i_najave/2009/studeni/predsjednica_vlade_rh_kosor_i_predsjednik_slovenske_vlade_pahor_otvorena_nova_stranica_u_odnosima_dviju_zemalja|title=Croatia, Slovenia open new chapter in their relations, PMs say|date=4 November 2009|publisher=Croatian Government|access-date=4 November 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927013843/http://www.vlada.hr/en/naslovnica/novosti_i_najave/2009/studeni/predsjednica_vlade_rh_kosor_i_predsjednik_slovenske_vlade_pahor_otvorena_nova_stranica_u_odnosima_dviju_zemalja|archive-date=27 September 2011}} The agreement required a two-thirds majority in Parliament for it to be approved. Milanović and most SDP MPs voted in favor of the agreement, however he criticized the Government and especially its former and present leaders, Sanader and Kosor, for wasting precious time since the arrangement with Slovenia could have been made a year earlier and Croatia would not have waited so long to continue with the accession process.[http://dnevnik.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/sabor-izglasao-potpisivanje-arbitraznog-sporazuma.html "Sabor izglasao Sporazum o arbitraži, SDP 'aktivno suzdržan'"], Dnevnik.hr; accessed 15 April 2015.

The financial crisis of 2007–2008 hit most European countries hard, as well as Croatia. The crisis continued throughout the following years. Industry shed tens of thousands of jobs, and unemployment soared. Consumer spending reduced drastically compared to record 2007 levels, causing widespread problems in the trade as well as transport industries. The continuing declining standard resulted in a quick fall in both the prime minister's as well as government's support. Milanović was very critical of the Government's supposed slow response and inadequate measures that did little to revive the economy. The recession and high unemployment continued throughout 2011 resulting in many anti-government protests around the country.[http://www.novilist.hr/hr/Vijesti/Hrvatska/Rastrgali-zastavu-HDZ-a-zapalili-SDP-ovu-i-EU-a Rastrgali zastavu HDZ-a, zapalili SDP-ovu i EU-a] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110817075213/http://www.novilist.hr/hr/Vijesti/Hrvatska/Rastrgali-zastavu-HDZ-a-zapalili-SDP-ovu-i-EU-a |date=17 August 2011 }}, novilist.hr; accessed 15 April 2015.

{{Main|2011 Croatian parliamentary election}}

On 28 October MPs voted to dissolve Parliament.{{cite web|url=http://dnevnik.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/ovo-su-bili-najzanimljiviji-trenuci-u-saboru.html|title=Pogledajte sve snimke sa suđenja Sanaderu|publisher=Dnevnik.hr|date=28 October 2011|access-date=10 December 2011}} President of the Republic Ivo Josipović agreed to a dissolution of Sabor on Monday, 31 October and scheduled the election, as previously suspected, for Sunday, 4 December 2011.{{cite web|url=http://odluka2011.dnevnik.hr/clanak/vijesti/predsjednik-josipovic-raspisao-izbore.html|title=Predsjednik Josipović raspisao izbore!|publisher=Odluka2011.dnevnik.hr|date=31 October 2011|access-date=10 December 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111203150728/http://odluka2011.dnevnik.hr/clanak/vijesti/predsjednik-josipovic-raspisao-izbore.html|archive-date=3 December 2011}}

The 2011 parliamentary election saw SDP joining three other left-wing parties to create the media-dubbed Kukuriku coalition with Milanović at the helm. Kukuriku won the election with an absolute majority of 81 seats. The election was the first in which rival HDZ was not the leading individual party in Parliament.[http://www.sgi-network.org/docs/2015/country/SGI2015_Croatia.pdf Sustainable Governance Indicators – 2015 Croatia Report], p. 2

File:12. Vlada Republike Hrvatske (6559244617).jpg

Milanović presented his cabinet to the Parliament on 23 December, 19 days after the election. The discussion resulted with 89 members, 81 Kukuriku and 8 national minority MPs, voting in favour of the Milanović cabinet.[http://www.rtl.hr/vijesti/novosti/211184/pogledajte-kako-je-izglasano-povjerenje-vladi "Pogledajte kako je izglasano povjerenje Vladi!"], rtl.hr; accessed 15 April 2015. The transition to power occurred the following evening when Jadranka Kosor welcomed Milanović to the government's official meeting place, Banski dvori, opposite the Sabor building on St. Mark's Square and handed him the necessary papers and documents.[http://slobodnadalmacija.hr/Hrvatska/tabid/66/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/159182/Default.aspx "Kosor s velikim brošem HDZ-a Milanoviću predala vlast: Idemo probati biti uspješni"], slobodnadalmacija.hr; accessed 15 April 2015.

Taking office at the age of 45, Milanović became one of the youngest prime ministers since Croatia's independence.{{cite news|url=http://doznajemo.com/2011/12/24/pgresna-racunica-milanovic-nije-najmladi-hrvatski-premijer/|title=Pogrešna računica: Milanović nije najmlađi hrvatski premijer|date=24 December 2011|work=Doznajemo.com|language=hr|access-date=5 February 2013|location=Zagreb|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227184913/http://doznajemo.com/2011/12/24/pgresna-racunica-milanovic-nije-najmladi-hrvatski-premijer/|archive-date=27 December 2013|url-status=dead}} In addition, his cabinet also became the youngest, with an average minister's age of 48.{{cite news|url=http://www.vecernji.hr/vijesti/milanovicevih-21-najmladi-premijer-najmlada-vlada-clanak-359295|title=Milanovićevih 21 – Najmlađi premijer, najmlađa vlada|last=Toma|first=Ivanka|date=22 December 2011|work=Večernji list|language=hr|access-date=23 December 2011|location=Zagreb}} Cabinet members came from three out of four parties of the winning coalition, leaving only the single-issue Croatian Party of Pensioners (HSU) without representation.{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.britannica.com/place/Croatia-Year-In-Review-2012|title=Croatia in 2012|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica|access-date=23 January 2016}} Milanović was reelected as president of the SDP in the 2012 leadership election as the only candidate.{{cite web|url=http://www.slobodnadalmacija.hr/Hrvatska/tabid/66/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/174089/Default.aspx|title=SDP sutra bira vodstvo – Milanović jedini kandidat|work=slobodnadalmacija.hr|date=22 July 2012|access-date=27 October 2015}}

File:Milanovic approval as PM.png

The Milanović administration started its mandate by introducing several liberal reforms. During 2012, a Law on medically assisted fertilization was enacted, health education was introduced in all elementary and high schools, and Milanović announced further expansion of rights for same-sex couples.{{cite news | url = http://www.jutarnji.hr/premijerov-iskorak--vlada-do-kraja-mandata-zeli-ozakoniti-istospolne-zajednice-po-uzoru-na-najrazvijenije-drzave/1027305/ | title = Milanović: Gay parovima trebamo dati prava kao u Španjolskoj, zbog toga nitko neće ništa izgubiti | newspaper = Jutarnji list | date = 11 May 2012 | access-date = 11 May 2012 | language = hr | archive-date = 3 March 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160303170437/http://www.jutarnji.hr/premijerov-iskorak--vlada-do-kraja-mandata-zeli-ozakoniti-istospolne-zajednice-po-uzoru-na-najrazvijenije-drzave/1027305/ | url-status = dead }}{{cite journal|url=http://hrcak.srce.hr/118852 |title=Građanski Odgoj I Obrazovanje U Školi – Potreba Ili Uvjet? |journal=Riječki Teološki Časopis |publisher=Hrcak.srce.hr |date=27 July 2013 |volume=41 |issue=1 |pages=101–136 |access-date=23 January 2016|last1=Rukavina Kovačević |first1=Ksenija }} During the 2011 elections the Kukuriku coalition promised to publish the registry of veterans of the Croatian War of Independence, which was done in December 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/croatia-publishes-war-veteran-s-registry|title=Croatia Publishes List of War Veterans|publisher=balkaninsight.com|date=20 December 2012|access-date=27 October 2015}}

In the Trial of Gotovina et al, following an initial guilty verdict in April 2011, Ante Gotovina and Mladen Markač were ultimately acquitted in November 2012. Milanović called the ruling "an important moment for Croatia", adding: "A huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I say thank you to them for surviving so long for the sake of Croatia."{{cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/europe/7962849/Generals-war-crime-convictions-overturned|title=Generals' war crime convictions overturned|publisher=stuff.co.nz|date=17 November 2012|access-date=27 October 2015}} In September 2013 anti-Cyrillic protests started against the introduction of bilingual signs with Serbian Cyrillic alphabet in Vukovar. Milanović condemned them as "chauvinist violence", saying he will not take down signs in Cyrillic in Vukovar as the "rule of law must prevail".{{cite web|url=http://www.thesundaily.my/news/822967|title=Anti-Serbian language protests highlight Croatia tensions|work=The Sun (Malaysia)|date=6 September 2013|access-date=25 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926170321/http://www.thesundaily.my/news/822967|archive-date=26 September 2018|url-status=dead}}

On 1 December 2013, a constitutional referendum was held in Croatia, its third referendum since becoming independent. The referendum, organized by the citizen initiative For the family of Željka Markić, proposed an amendment that would define marriage as a union between a man and a woman, thus creating a constitutional prohibition against same-sex marriage. Milanović opposed the proposal and told HRT that he would vote against it.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24873498 Croatia to hold referendum on same-sex marriage ban] BBC News, 8 November 2013 The government advised citizens to vote against it, but the referendum passed with 65% votes in favour, however, with voter turnout at only 38%. Milanović was unhappy that the referendum had taken place at all, saying "I think it did not make us any better, smarter or prettier."{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/03/world/europe/croatian-government-to-pursue-law-allowing-civil-unions-for-gay-couples.html|title=Croatian Government to Pursue Law Allowing Civil Unions for Gay Couples|date=3 December 2013|work=The New York Times|access-date=23 January 2016}} He also said that the referendum does not change the existing definition of marriage according to Croatian laws. He further announced the upcoming enactment of the Law on Partnership, which will enable same-sex persons to form a lifetime partnership union, which would share the same rights as that of marriage proper, apart from the right of adoption.{{citation |url=http://www.jutarnji.hr/gayevi-ce-se-vjencavati--samo-se-njihova-veza-nece-moci-zvati-brakom-/1144010/ |title=Gayevi će se vjenčavati, samo se njihova veza neće moći zvati brakom |trans-title=Gays will be able to get married, but their relationship can not be called marriage |access-date=27 October 2015 |archive-date=12 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160412162232/http://www.jutarnji.hr/gayevi-ce-se-vjencavati--samo-se-njihova-veza-nece-moci-zvati-brakom-/1144010/ |url-status=dead }} On 12 December 2013 the Government passed the proposed Bill,{{cite web|author=Foto: Patrik Macek/PIXSELL |url=http://www.vecernji.hr/hrvatska/vlada-danas-usvaja-prijedlog-zakona-o-zivotnom-partnerstvu-908707 |title=Milanović: Veslom smo gurali Jakovinu da ide u Bali |language=hr |publisher=Vecernji.hr |access-date=5 April 2014}} and the Parliament passed the Life Partnership Act in July 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.jutarnji.hr/usvojen-zakon-o-zivotnom-partnerstvu--prva-istospolna-vjencanja-sredinom-kolovoza-/1206537/|website=jutarnji.hr|title=Povijesna Odluka U Saboru Istospolni će parovi od rujna imati ista prava kao i bračni partneri|access-date=10 December 2020|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303220721/http://www.jutarnji.hr/usvojen-zakon-o-zivotnom-partnerstvu--prva-istospolna-vjencanja-sredinom-kolovoza-/1206537/|url-status=dead}}

A bad economic situation weakened the originally strong public support for the Milanović government, which was demonstrated in the 2013 local elections.[http://www.sgi-network.org/docs/2015/country/SGI2015_Croatia.pdf Sustainable Governance Indicators – 2015 Croatia Report], p. 4 In the first European Parliament elections in Croatia in 2013, SDP won 32% of the votes and five MEPs, one less than HDZ, the largest opposition party. The following year SDP won 29.9% in the 2014 European Parliament elections and four MEPs.{{cite web|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/elections2014-results/en/country-results-hr-2014.html|title=Results of the 2014 European elections – Results by country – Croatia – European Parliament|access-date=23 January 2016}} Milanović and his party gave support to Ivo Josipović in the presidential elections, which were won by Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović from the HDZ. Josipović later formed his own party, Forward Croatia-Progressive Alliance, instead of returning to the SDP.{{cite web|url=http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/ex-croatian-president-forming-a-centre-left-party|title=Josipovic to Form New Left Party in Croatia|work=balkaninsight.com|date=7 April 2015|access-date=27 October 2015}}

{{Main|2014–2016 Croatian war veterans protest}}

Croatian war veterans started a protest in Zagreb in October 2014, calling for the resignation of Predrag Matić, war veterans minister, and a new constitutional law guaranteeing their rights. Milanović rejected their demands, saying that there is no reason to sack the minister and that he would not submit to ultimata.{{cite web|url=http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/croatian-prime-minister-refusing-to-sack-minister-protesters-not-giving-up|title=Croatia PM Rejects Protesting Veterans' Demands|publisher=balkaninsight.com|date=29 October 2014|access-date=27 October 2015}} He added: "My government has not, even by thought, act or omission, brought the human dignity of the Croatian defenders and the eternal significance of the Homeland War into question."

The protest continued throughout 2015. In May 2015 it escalated when hundreds of veterans scuffled with the police in front of the government building. Milanović said that his government has not curbed their rights and that he is ready for talks, but will not be blackmailed. He accused the opposition party HDZ for manipulating with the veterans. Tomislav Karamarko, the president of HDZ, rejected the accusation.{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-croatia-violence-idUSKBN0OE1TM20150529|title=Croatian PM says opposition manipulating war veterans' protest|publisher=reuters.com|date=29 May 2015|access-date=27 October 2015|archive-date=6 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606004201/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-croatia-violence/croatian-pm-says-opposition-manipulating-war-veterans-protest-idUSKBN0OE1TM20150529|url-status=live}} Milanović met with the representatives of the protesting veterans in June, but the protest continued.{{cite web|url=http://arhiva.dalje.com/en-croatia/protesting-veterans-pm-and-ministers-again-at-sitting-table/546587|title=Protesting veterans, PM and ministers again at sitting table|publisher=dalje.com|date=29 May 2015|access-date=27 October 2015}}

On 4 August 2015, on the insistence of Milanović and the Defence Minister Ante Kotromanović, a military parade of the Croatian Armed Forces was held in Zagreb in honour of the Victory Day, celebrating the 20th anniversary of Operation Storm. Milanović thanked everyone who sacrificed their lives for Croatia's freedom. He also expressed his gratitude to Franjo Tuđman, first Croatian president, who led Croatia during the war.{{cite web|url=http://arhiva.dalje.com/en-croatia/milanovic-says-croatia-not-celebrating-war-but-freedom-and-peace/552142|title=Milanovic says Croatia not celebrating war but freedom and peace|publisher=dalje.com|date=29 May 2015|access-date=27 October 2015|archive-date=15 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150915095707/http://arhiva.dalje.com/en-croatia/milanovic-says-croatia-not-celebrating-war-but-freedom-and-peace/552142|url-status=dead}}{{blockquote|Croatia had every right to do everything that it could to stay alive and integral, it had the right not to get expelled from its home, it had the right not to serve as human shield to those who destroyed cities and burned down villages. Croatia today is not celebrating the war, it is not celebrating anyone's suffering or persecution, let this be clear to everyone who still don't understand. Croatia had done everything it could to avoid the war, it had offered peaceful solutions. And it was rejected. Croatia today celebrates freedom and peace and with a pure heart it celebrates victory, a turning point which put an end to an ugly, imposed and particularly caddish war}}

File:Predstavljanje_nove_Vlade_RH_(6558639069).jpg

The Milanović administration adopted a number of reforms in taxation in order to cope with the difficult economic situation. It raised the standard Value-added tax from 23% to 25% and introduced new VAT rates for goods and services that were not previously taxed. It also cut social insurance contributions and public-sector wages.[http://www.sgi-network.org/docs/2014/country/SGI2014_Croatia.pdf Sustainable Governance Indicators – 2014 Croatia Report], p. 7 In October the Financial Operations and Pre-Bankruptcy Settlements Act was passed, which allowed firms that were unable to pay their bills to stay open during the bankruptcy proceedings and restructure their debts.{{cite web|url=http://limun.hr/main.aspx?id=863902|title=Fina distraint orders prove to be efficient|publisher=limun.hr|date=24 October 2012|access-date=29 October 2015}} Because of opposition by its coalition partner, HNS, property tax has not been expanded.[http://www.sgi-network.org/docs/2015/country/SGI2015_Croatia.pdf Sustainable Governance Indicators – 2015 Croatia Report], p. 8

The government succeeded in reducing the budget deficit to 5.3% in 2012,{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/tgm/refreshTableAction.do?tab=table&plugin=1&pcode=teina200&language=en|title=Eurostat – Tables, Graphs and Maps Interface (TGM) table|access-date=23 January 2016}} but GDP contracted by 2.2% and public debt reached 69.2%.{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/tgm/table.do?tab=table&init=1&language=en&pcode=tec00115&plugin=1|title=Eurostat – Tables, Graphs and Maps Interface (TGM) table|access-date=23 January 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/tgm/table.do?tab=table&init=1&language=en&pcode=teina225&plugin=1|title=Eurostat – Tables, Graphs and Maps Interface (TGM) table|access-date=23 January 2016}} Milanović's time in office has been marked by several cuts to Croatia's credit rating. On 14 December 2012 S&P cut the country's long term rating to BB+ and the short term rating to B.{{Cite web|url=https://countryeconomy.com/ratings/croatia|title=Rating: Croatia Credit Rating 2023 | countryeconomy.com|website=countryeconomy.com}} On 1 February 2013, Moody's cut Croatia's credit rating from Baa3 to Ba1.

Several major construction projects started in 2012, including a new passenger terminal on the Zagreb International Airport and a third block of the coal-fired Plomin Power Station; however, some projects were suspended, including the Ombla hydroelectric power plant.{{cite web|url=http://www.vijesti.rtl.hr/novosti/hrvatska/1697538/zmajlovic-potvrdio-vlada-je-odbila-hep-ov-zahtjev-za-gradnju-hidroelektrane-ombla/|title=Zmajlović potvrdio: Vlada je odbila HEP-ov zahtjev za gradnju hidroelektrane Ombla|publisher=vijesti.rtl.hr|date=25 July 2015|access-date=27 October 2015}} The government said that construction of the Pelješac Bridge was to start in spring 2016.{{cite news |title=Croatia: Delayed bridge bypassing Bosnia goes ahead |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-33541099 |newspaper=BBC News |location=BBC Monitoring |date=15 July 2015 |access-date=17 July 2015 }} Milanović expressed his support for further oil and gas exploration and exploitation in the Adriatic Sea,{{cite web|url=http://www.total-croatia-news.com/business/550-adriatic-driling-milanovic-supports-further-exploration-of-hydrocarbon-reserves-in-the-adriatic-sea|title=Adriatic Driling: Milanović Supports Further Exploration of Hydrocarbon Reserves in the Adriatic Sea|publisher=total-croatia-news.com|date=16 August 2015|access-date=27 October 2015}} which is opposed by the opposition parties and environmental organizations.{{cite web|url=http://arhiva.dalje.com/en-croatia/hdz-against-hpbs-privatisation-oil-rigs-in-adriatic/539739|title=HDZ against HPB's privatisation, oil rigs in Adriatic|publisher=dalje.com|date=19 March 2013|access-date=27 October 2015}}

File:12th Croatian Government approval ratings.png

In November 2012, Minister of Economy and Deputy Prime Minister Radimir Čačić resigned and was replaced by Ivan Vrdoljak. In 2013 a new fiscalization law was introduced to control gray economy and minimize tax avoidance.{{cite web|url=http://www.croatiaweek.com/grey-economy-on-the-way-out-in-croatia/|title=Grey economy on the way out in Croatia|publisher=croatiaweek.com|date=1 January 2013|access-date=27 October 2015}} The government put focus on the shipbuilding industry and privatized state-owned shipyards by May 2013.{{cite web|url=http://wire.seenews.com/news/croatia-plans-to-wrap-up-privatization-of-shipyards-by-end-may-fin-min-329360|title=Croatia plans to wrap up privatization of shipyards by end-May – fin min|publisher=wire.seenews.com|date=21 January 2013|access-date=27 October 2015|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304095536/http://wire.seenews.com/news/croatia-plans-to-wrap-up-privatization-of-shipyards-by-end-may-fin-min-329360|url-status=dead}} In order to service public debt, the government presented a project of monetization of Croatian highways in 2013 which would bring around 2.5 billion euros. Trade unions and civic associations rejected the proposal and called for a retraction of the decision.{{cite web|url=http://www.oneworldsee.org/content/croatian-government-faces-demands-retract-its-decision-motorway-concessions|title=Croatian Government Faces Demands to Retract its Decision on Motorway Concessions|publisher=oneworldsee.org|date=19 December 2013|access-date=27 October 2015|archive-date=2 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602093407/http://www.oneworldsee.org/content/croatian-government-faces-demands-retract-its-decision-motorway-concessions|url-status=dead}} A civic initiative called "We Are Not Giving Our Highways" gathered signatures for a highway referendum. Although the constitutional court ruled that a referendum on the subject was unconstitutional, the government announced that it was withdrawing the decision. Instead of the initial plan to lease the country's highways to foreign investors, the government will instead offer shares in them to Croatian citizens and pension funds.{{cite web|url=http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/croatian-government-offering-highways-to-citizens|title=Croatia to Offer Shares in Highways to Citizens|publisher=balkaninsight.com|date=24 April 2015|access-date=27 October 2015}}

The Pension Insurance Act of January 2014 raised the statutory retirement age from 65 to 67 and early retirement age from 60 to 62.[http://www.sgi-network.org/docs/2015/country/SGI2015_Croatia.pdf Sustainable Governance Indicators – 2015 Croatia Report], p. 13 The unemployment rate peaked in February 2014 at 22.7%,{{Cite news|url=https://www.jutarnji.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/alarmantne-brojke-stopa-nezaposlenosti-u-veljaci-najvisa-u-posljednjih-12-godina-a-mrsic-je-zadovoljan/876943/|title=ALARMANTNE BROJKE Stopa nezaposlenosti u veljači najviša u posljednjih 12 godina, a Mrsić je zadovoljan|publisher=Jutarnji list|date=21 March 2014}} but has since been steadily declining and reached its lowest rate in two years in August.{{Cite news|url=http://www.novilist.hr/Vijesti/Gospodarstvo/Nezaposlenost-na-najnizoj-razini-u-dvije-godine|title=Nezaposlenost na najnižoj razini u dvije godine|publisher=Novi list|date=23 September 2014}} In May 2014 Milanović sacked the Finance Minister, Slavko Linić, over a property deal that he said had hurt the state budget and appointed Boris Lalovac on his place.{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-croatia-financeminister-sacking-idUSBREA450ED20140506|title=Croatian PM sacks finance minister over property purchase|publisher=wire.seenews.com|date=6 May 2014|access-date=27 October 2015|archive-date=10 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150710022319/http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/06/us-croatia-financeminister-sacking-idUSBREA450ED20140506|url-status=live}} Changes in Personal Income Tax were introduced in 2015, the non-taxable part of income was raised, which resulted in a net salary increase for around one million people.{{cite web|url=http://www.ecovis.com/en/personal-income-tax-croatia/|title=Personal Income Tax (Croatia)|publisher=ecovis.com|date=28 January 2015|access-date=27 October 2015}} In January 2015, the government decided to freeze exchange rates for Swiss francs for a year, after a rise in the franc that caused increasingly expensive loans for borrowers in that currency.{{cite web|url=http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/swiss-franc-growth-worries-croatian-government|title=Croatia Freezes Swiss Franc Exchange Rate|publisher=balkaninsight.com|date=20 January 2015|access-date=27 October 2015}} In August 2015, Milanović announced that Swiss franc loans will be converted into euro-denominated ones.{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/croatia-loans-idUSL5N1102G120150825|title=Croatia to convert Swiss franc loans into euros|publisher=reuters.com|date=25 August 2015|access-date=27 October 2015|archive-date=6 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606004202/https://www.reuters.com/article/croatia-loans/update-1-croatia-to-convert-swiss-franc-loans-into-euros-idUSL5N1102G120150825|url-status=live}}

GDP decreased in 2013 (−0.9%) and 2014 (−0,4%), but in the 4th quarter of 2014 real GDP growth reached 0.3% for the first time since 2011. It was announced on 28 August 2015 that the economy had grown by 1.2% for a third consecutive quarter which marked Croatia's exit from a six-year economic recession.{{cite web |url=http://www.jutarnji.hr/rast-iznad-svih-ocekivanja-hrvatsko-gospodarstvo-u-drugom-tromjesecju-ove-godine-poraslo-1-2-posto--znatno-vise-od-prethodnog-kvartala-/1406336/ |title=RAST IZNAD SVIH OČEKIVANJA Hrvatsko gospodarstvo u drugom tromjesečju ove godine poraslo 1,2 posto, znatno više od prethodnog kvartala |publisher=Jutarnji.hr |date=28 August 2015 |access-date=23 January 2016 |archive-date=5 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305010703/http://www.jutarnji.hr/rast-iznad-svih-ocekivanja-hrvatsko-gospodarstvo-u-drugom-tromjesecju-ove-godine-poraslo-1-2-posto--znatno-vise-od-prethodnog-kvartala-/1406336/ |url-status=dead }} The budget deficit decreased in 2015 to 3.2% of GDP, down from 5.5% in 2014, and public debt was at 86.7% of GDP, the lowest debt growth rate since the introduction of the ESA 2010 methodology.{{cite news|url=https://eblnews.com/news/croatia/croatias-2015-general-government-deficit-32-public-debt-867-gdp-18584|title=Croatia's 2015 general government deficit at 3.2%, public debt at 86.7% of GDP|date=21 April 2016|work=EBL News|access-date=8 November 2016|archive-date=3 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210803095704/https://eblnews.com/news/croatia/croatias-2015-general-government-deficit-32-public-debt-867-gdp-18584|url-status=usurped}}

File:Secretary Clinton Shakes Hands With Milanovic (8142519313).jpg before their meeting in Zagreb, 31 October 2012]]

Milanović's foreign policy was initially concentrated on the accession of Croatia to the European Union. On 22 January 2012, an EU accession referendum was held, with 66.25% voting in favour and 33.13% against. About 47% of eligible voters took part in the referendum. On 11 March 2013, Milanović signed the Memorandum of Agreement with Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša, regarding the issue of Ljubljanska Banka, which closed down in 1991 without reimbursing its Croatian depositors. Croatia agreed to suspend a lawsuit against the bank and its successor, while Slovenia pledged to ratify Croatia's EU Accession Treaty.{{cite news|url=http://www.sloveniatimes.com/slovenia-and-croatia-signed-lb-memorandum|title=Slovenia and Croatia Signed LB Memorandum|date=11 March 2013|work=The Slovenia Times}} Slovenia ratified Croatia's accession bid on 2 April 2013.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-slovenia-croatia-eu/slovenia-backs-croatias-eu-entry-after-bank-dispute-set-aside-idUSBRE9310A520130402|title=Slovenia backs Croatia's EU entry after bank dispute set aside|date=2 April 2013|work=Reuters}} After all 27 member states signed the EU accession treaty, on 1 July 2013, Croatia joined the European Union, becoming the 28th member state.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-23118035|title=Croatia celebrates on joining EU|date=1 July 2013|work=BBC}}

File:Victor Ponta la Summit-ul Premierilor din Europa Centrala si de Est - China, Bucuresti (11170614844).jpg, 26 November 2013]]

On 27 February 2012 Milanović visited Bosnia and Herzegovina, which was his first travel to a foreign country since he became prime minister.{{cite news|url=http://vijesti.hrt.hr/154699/premijer-milanovic-u-sarajevu|title=Premijer Milanović u Sarajevu|date=27 February 2012|work=Croatian Radiotelevision|access-date=27 August 2016|archive-date=13 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170613200117/http://vijesti.hrt.hr/154699/premijer-milanovic-u-sarajevu|url-status=dead}} On the following day he visited Široki Brijeg and Mostar, where he met with members of the Croatian National Assembly, a political organisation of the Croats of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Milanović said that all he is asking for Croats in that country is a fair deal and added that Croatia will support the Accession of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the European Union.{{cite news|url=http://www.bljesak.info/rubrika/vijesti/clanak/milanovic-u-mostaru-posjetio-skb-mostar-i-sveuciliste-odrzao-predavanje-studentima/47379|title=Milanović u Mostaru: Posjetio SKB Mostar i Sveučilište, održao predavanje studentima|date=28 February 2012|work=bljesak.info}}

Due to the ongoing civil war in Syria, in February 2012 Milanović called on Croatian companies working in Syria to withdraw from the country.{{cite news|agency=Businessweek|url=http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-02-23/croatian-companies-should-exit-syria-premier-milanovic-says.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130725115302/http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-02-23/croatian-companies-should-exit-syria-premier-milanovic-says.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 July 2013|title=Croatian Companies Should Exit Syria, Premier Milanovic Says|first=Jasmina|last=Kuzmanovic|date=23 February 2012|access-date=6 December 2012}} On 18 January 2013 Croatian Foreign Ministry declared that Croatia, as well as the entire European Union, recognizes the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces as the only "legitimate representatives of the aspirations of the Syrian people".{{cite web|url=http://www.vecernji.hr/hrvatska/rh-priznala-sirijsku-oporbu-kao-legitimnog-predstavnika-naroda-499500 |title=RH priznala sirijsku oporbu kao legitimnog predstavnika naroda – Večernji.hr |publisher=Vecernji.hr |access-date=23 January 2016}}{{cite web|author=I.M. |url=http://www.index.hr/vijesti/clanak/hrvatska-priznala-sirijsku-oporbu-kao-jedinu-legitimnu-vlast-u-siriji/657850.aspx |title=Hrvatska priznala sirijsku oporbu kao jedinu legitimnu vlast u Siriji – Vijesti |publisher=Index.hr |date=18 January 2013 |access-date=23 January 2016}} In February 2013 Milanović announced that Croatia is withdrawing its troops from the Golan Heights that are participating in the UN's peacekeeping mission after it was reported that Croatia sold their old weapons to the Syrian opposition.{{cite news|title=Zbog NY Timesa Hrvatska povlači svoje vojnike s Golanske visoravni |url=http://www.vecernji.hr/vijesti/zbog-ny-timesa-hrvatska-povlaci-svoje-vojnike-golanske-visoravni-clanak-517046 |newspaper=Večernji list |date=28 February 2012 |language=hr |access-date=28 February 2012}}

When demonstrations and riots started in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2014, Milanović visited Mostar, a city with a Croat majority, where the seat of HDZ BiH was damaged in the riots. Sarajevo criticized his move, saying he should have visited the capital first. Milanović later called the protest quasi-civic on ethnic and religious vertical.{{cite news|url=http://dnevnik.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/predsjednik-vlade-zoran-milanovic-danas-u-posjetu-mostaru---322750.html|title=Milanović u Mostaru: 'Prosvjedi se ne bi dogodili da je EU znala što želi u BiH'|date=9 February 2014|work=dnevnik.hr|access-date=27 October 2015}} The Croatian Government refused to accept indictments from Sarajevo labeled as political due to unacceptable claims about the character of the Croat–Bosniak War.{{cite news|url=http://arhiva.dalje.com/en-world/bosnia-says-croatia-free-to-decide-on-indictments/546134|title=Bosnia says Croatia free to decide on indictments|date=3 June 2015|work=dalje.com}}

On 22 July 2015 a major scandal occurred during the arbitration procedure of the Croatian–Slovenian border dispute, when it was discovered that the Slovenian representative has been lobbying other judges to rule in Slovenia's favor. Three days later Milanović announced the withdrawal of Croatia from arbitration after a meeting with the leaders of parliamentary groups.{{cite news|url=http://dalje.com/en-croatia/milanovic--croatia-is-withdrawing-from-arbitration/551421|title=Milanovic: Croatia is withdrawing from arbitration|date=27 July 2015|work=Dalje|access-date=27 July 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150730023935/http://dalje.com/en-croatia/milanovic--croatia-is-withdrawing-from-arbitration/551421|archive-date=30 July 2015}}

{{Main|2015 European migrant crisis}}

Beginning on 16 September 2015, migrants and refugees from the Middle East, South Asia and Africa began entering Croatia from Serbia in large numbers{{cite web|url=http://www.index.hr/vijesti/clanak/prve-izbjeglice-stigle-u-hrvatsku/842139.aspx |title=U Hrvatsku stiglo 1300 izbjeglica: "Trebamo pomoć, ne možemo se nositi s desecima tisuća ljudi"|publisher=Index.hr |date=16 September 2015 |access-date=23 January 2016}} after the construction of the Hungary-Serbia barrier. On 17 September Croatia closed its border with Serbia.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34286432|title=Migrant crisis: Croatia closes border crossings with Serbia|work=BBC News|date=18 September 2015|access-date=19 September 2015}} After initial efforts to register all migrant entrances into Croatia, registration ceased on 18 September and migrants began to be transported toward Slovenia and Hungary. By 23 September 2015 over 40,000 had entered Croatia from Serbia, with main acceptance centers set up in Opatovac and Zagreb,{{cite web|url=http://www.vecernji.hr/hrvatska/vozaci-kamiona-blokirali-bajakovo-kolona-na-izlazu-iz-hrvatske-9-km-cijelu-noc-izbjeglice-stizale-u-opatovac-102637 |title=Na Kubi proizvedena "Julija" – prva cigara za žene – Večernji.hr |publisher=Vecernji.hr |access-date=23 January 2016}} while migrants were also held in Beli Manastir, Ilača, Tovarnik, Ježevo and Sisak.{{cite web |url=http://www.jutarnji.hr/foto--video--situacija-sve-teza-drama-u-slavoniji--vlaka-jos-uvijek-nema--a-izbjeglice-nemaju-ni-kapi-vode--u-dugavama-azilant-gadao-ciglom-fotoreportera--s-balkona-hotela-vicu---sloboda-/1419579/ |title=FOTO, VIDEO: SITUACIJA SVE TEŽA Drama u Slavoniji: Vlaka još uvijek nema, a izbjeglice nemaju ni kapi vode! U Dugavama azilant gađao ciglom fotoreportera, s balkona hotela viču: 'Sloboda' |publisher=Jutarnji.hr |date=17 September 2015 |access-date=23 January 2016 |archive-date=28 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160328235612/http://www.jutarnji.hr/foto--video--situacija-sve-teza-drama-u-slavoniji--vlaka-jos-uvijek-nema--a-izbjeglice-nemaju-ni-kapi-vode--u-dugavama-azilant-gadao-ciglom-fotoreportera--s-balkona-hotela-vicu---sloboda-/1419579/ |url-status=dead }} Milanović criticized Serbia for sending migrants only towards the Croatian border, while sparing Hungary and Romania{{cite web|url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/croatia-pm-urges-serbia/2144454.html |title=Croatia PM urges Serbia to redirect migrants to ease burden |publisher=Channel NewsAsia |date=23 September 2015 |access-date=23 January 2016}} and stated that his country "will not become a migrant hotspot".{{cite web|author=Matthew Weaver and agencies |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/18/croatia-refugees-zoran-milanovic-migrant-hotspot |title=Croatia 'will not become a migrant hotspot' says prime minister | World news |work=The Guardian|date=18 September 2015 |access-date=23 January 2016}} Tensions escalated between Serbia and Croatia and on 24 September Serbia banned imports from Croatia to protest against Croatia's decision to close the border to cargo, while Croatia responded by banning all Serbian-registered vehicles from entering the country.{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/09/tensions-croatia-serbia-rise-refugees-150924193440477.html|title=Tensions between Croatia and Serbia rise over refugees|work=aljazeera.com|access-date=27 October 2015}} On 25 September Croatia lifted the blockade on its border and Serbia lifted its ban on imports from Croatia, but Milanović said that he is ready to block the border again if necessary.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-europe-migrants-croatia-border-idUSKCN0RP1QX20150925|title=Croatia lifts border blockade with Serbia|work=reuters.com|date=25 September 2015|access-date=27 October 2015|archive-date=27 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151127010048/http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/09/25/us-europe-migrants-croatia-border-idUSKCN0RP1QX20150925|url-status=live}} With winter approaching a new, more permanent refugee acceptance center was built in Slavonski Brod in late 2015.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}

{{Main|2015 Croatian parliamentary election}}

File:Jerneić, Hrelja, Milanović, Tireli, Grčić signing coalition agreement.jpg coalition, 8 September 2015]]

For the 2015 parliamentary election the Kukuriku Coalition changed its name to Croatia is Growing. It consists of three out of four original members: the Social Democratic Party, Croatian People's Party – Liberal Democrats (HNS-LD), Croatian Party of Pensioners (HSU), as well as three new ones: Croatian Labourists – Labour Party, Authentic Croatian Peasant Party (A-HSS) and Zagorje Party. Istrian Democratic Assembly left the coalition. The campaign of the Coalition, led by Milanović, was based on rhetoric against austerity measures and emphasizing the government's policies during its mandate.{{cite web|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2015-11/03/c_134776652.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151112112919/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2015-11/03/c_134776652.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 November 2015|title=News Analysis: Third option in Croatian elections to lower percentages won by major parties|work=xinhuanet.com|access-date=27 October 2015}}

After 76 days of negotiations, the Patriotic Coalition and the Bridge of Independent Lists party formed the 13th Croatian Government with Tihomir Orešković as the new prime minister. Milanović formally handed over office to Orešković in the late hours of 22 January 2016, after a lengthy parliamentary debate on the new government's program and the subsequent vote of confidence.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}

On 2 April 2016, elections were held for the party's leadership. Milanović's opposing candidate was Zlatko Komadina, the prefect of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, who advocated for a "much more social democratic" SDP.{{cite news|url=https://eblnews.com/news/croatia/komadina-its-time-democratic-and-modern-sdp-6652|title=Komadina: It's time for a democratic and modern SDP|date=16 January 2016|work=EBL News|access-date=8 November 2016|archive-date=9 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161109084223/https://eblnews.com/news/croatia/komadina-its-time-democratic-and-modern-sdp-6652|url-status=usurped}} Milanović was again re-elected president of SDP for the next four years.{{cite news|url=https://eblnews.com/news/croatia/milanovic-re-elected-sdp-leader-16309|title=Milanovic re-elected SDP leader|date=2 April 2016|work=EBL News|access-date=8 November 2016|archive-date=2 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802182444/https://eblnews.com/news/croatia/milanovic-re-elected-sdp-leader-16309|url-status=usurped}}

{{Main|2016 Croatian parliamentary election}}

File:People's coalition leaders.png in Zabok, where they signed a coalition agreement on 16 July 2016]]

In July 2016, SDP, HNS-LD and HSU formed the People's Coalition ({{langx|hr|Narodna koalicija}}) for the 2016 parliamentary election. They were joined by the Croatian Peasant Party (HSS), while the Croatian Labourists left the coalition.{{cite news|url=https://eblnews.com/news/croatia/sdp-run-coalition-hns-hss-and-hsu-28485|title=SDP to run in coalition with HNS, HSS and HSU|date=9 July 2016|work=EBL News|access-date=8 November 2016|archive-date=2 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802182810/https://eblnews.com/news/croatia/sdp-run-coalition-hns-hss-and-hsu-28485|url-status=usurped}}

Leaked taped conversations from a meeting with representatives of veterans association, published on 24 and 25 August 2016 by Jutarnji list, in which Milanović made controversial statements against the neighboring countries of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, have caused criticism.{{cite web|url=https://www.armedpolitics.com/4383/leaked-audiotapes-of-former-pm-and-sdp-chief-milanovic-cause-controversy-in-west-balkans/|title=Leaked Audiotapes of Former PM and SDP Chief Milanović Cause Controversy in West Balkans|date=25 August 2016|access-date=21 January 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.jutarnji.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/poslusajte-kako-je-tekao-jednosatni-sastanak-na-iblerovom-trgu/4641752/|title=Poslušajte kako je tekao jednosatni sastanak na Iblerovom trgu|date=25 August 2016|work=Jutarnji list|access-date=18 December 2016}} While commenting on Serbia's accession to the EU and their law on universal jurisdiction for war crimes prosecution on the whole territory of former Yugoslavia, Milanović stated that the Serbian government was acting arrogantly, and that he was willing to block Serbia's EU accession negotiations and also adopt a special law which would allow Croatia to prosecute Serbian citizens who committed war crimes in Kosovo, adding that "Serbs want to be rulers of the Balkans, but are actually a handful of misery".{{cite web|author=Hanza Media |url=http://www.jutarnji.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/milanovic-o-srbima-zele-biti-gospodari-balkana-a-zapravo-su-saka-jada/4640345/ |title=MILANOVIĆ O SRBIMA 'Žele biti gospodari Balkana, a zapravo su šaka jada' -Jutarnji List |date=24 August 2016 |publisher=Jutarnji.hr |access-date=26 August 2016}} While commenting on Bosnia and Herzegovina, Milanović stated that he wasn't "thrilled with the situation there" and complained that "there was no one he could talk to in Sarajevo", adding that he would like for Bosnia and Herzegovina to enter the EU even without all the preconditions being met, since "it's a country without law and order".{{cite web|url=http://balkans.aljazeera.net/vijesti/milanovic-bih-nije-drzava |title=Milanović: BiH nije država | Al Jazeera Balkans |language=bs|publisher=Balkans.aljazeera.net |access-date=26 August 2016}} In addition, he stated that he did not care about Za dom spremni salute but urged veterans not to use it because it is harmful to Croatia.{{cite web|author=Hanza Media |url=http://www.jutarnji.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/milanovic-ponudio-braniteljima-zelite-li-da-vam-ostavim-tomu-medveda/4640348/|title=Milanović ponudio braniteljima: 'Želite li da vam ostavim Tomu Medveda?' -Jutarnji List |publisher=Jutarnji list|date=24 August 2016|access-date=26 August 2016}} Milanović's rhetoric during the 2016 electoral campaign was described by some observers as populist.{{cite book|last=Stojić|first=Marko|title=Party Responses to the EU in the Western Balkans: Transformation, Opposition or Defiance?|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MBo0DwAAQBAJ|publisher=Springer|date=2017|page=70|isbn=978-3319595634}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-37306047|title=Croatia vote overshadowed by nationalist rhetoric|work=BBC News|date=8 September 2016|access-date=13 January 2019}}

The HDZ won a majority of seats in the parliament and formed a governing majority with Most, with HDZ leader Andrej Plenković becoming the new Prime Minister. Milanović announced that he would not run for another term as SDP president.{{cite news|url=https://www.total-croatia-news.com/item/14021-zoran-milanovic-will-not-run-for-another-term-as-sdp-president|title=Zoran Milanović Will Not Run for Another Term as SDP President|date=12 September 2016|work=Total Croatia News}} On 26 November he was succeeded by Davor Bernardić as the president of SDP.{{cite news|url=https://eblnews.com/news/croatia/new-sdp-leader-advocate-society-equal-opportunity-46016|title=New SDP leader to advocate society of equal opportunity|date=27 November 2016|work=EBL News|access-date=28 November 2016|archive-date=2 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802184429/https://eblnews.com/news/croatia/new-sdp-leader-advocate-society-equal-opportunity-46016|url-status=usurped}}

After leaving politics, Milanović entered the consulting business and founded a consulting firm called EuroAlba Advisory.{{cite news|url=http://www.total-croatia-news.com/business/14863-former-prime-minister-milanovic-starts-a-business|title=Former Prime Minister Milanović Starts a Business|date=14 November 2016|work=Total Croatia News}} Since 2017, he was an advisor to Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama,{{cite news|url=https://www.total-croatia-news.com/politics/23323-former-prime-minister-milanovic-advising-albanian-government|title=Former Prime Minister Milanović Advising Albanian Government|date=10 November 2017|work=Total Croatia News}} and president of the Diplomatic Council of the Dag Hammarskjöld University College of International Relations and Diplomacy.{{cite news|url=http://www.index.hr/vijesti/clanak/milanovic-dobio-novi-posao-radit-ce-u-visokoj-skoli-diplomacije-/1008161.aspx|title=Milanović dobio novi posao, radit će u Visokoj školi diplomacije|date=17 November 2017|work=index.hr}}

{{See also|2019–20 Croatian presidential election}}

On 17 June 2019, Milanović confirmed that he will be running in the country's upcoming presidential election as SDP's candidate, with the campaign slogan "A president with character".{{Cite news|url=http://hr.n1info.com/English/NEWS/a411801/Milanovic-confirms-running-for-president-on-his-Facebook-profile.html|title=Milanovic confirms running for president on his Facebook profile|publisher=N1|date=17 June 2019|access-date=17 June 2019|archive-date=17 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190617190341/http://hr.n1info.com/English/NEWS/a411801/Milanovic-confirms-running-for-president-on-his-Facebook-profile.html|url-status=dead}} While announcing his candidacy, Milanović said that he wanted to be the "president of a modern, progressive, inquisitive and open Croatia".{{Cite news|url=https://www.total-croatia-news.com/politics/36598-zoran-milanovic|title=Zoran Milanović Launches His Presidential Campaign|publisher=Total Croatia News|date=18 June 2019}} The SDP main committee, as well as the HSS presidency, gave support to Milanović's bid for president.{{Cite news|url=http://hr.n1info.com/English/NEWS/a416653/SDP-main-committee-supports-Zoran-Milanovic-s-presidential-bid.html|title=SDP main committee supports Zoran Milanovic's presidential bid|publisher=N1|date=6 July 2019|access-date=22 September 2019|archive-date=22 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190922200018/http://hr.n1info.com/English/NEWS/a416653/SDP-main-committee-supports-Zoran-Milanovic-s-presidential-bid.html|url-status=dead}}{{Cite news|url=http://hr.n1info.com/English/NEWS/a419560/HSS-supports-Milanovic-in-presidential-race.html|title=HSS supports Milanovic in presidential race|publisher=N1|date=16 July 2019|access-date=22 September 2019|archive-date=22 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190922200015/http://hr.n1info.com/English/NEWS/a419560/HSS-supports-Milanovic-in-presidential-race.html|url-status=dead}} He was subsequently endorsed by several centre-left and centrist parties, including the HSU, PGS, NS-R, Democrats, IDS, HL, SU, Glas, MDS, SNAGA, and ZS.{{Cite news|url=https://www.jutarnji.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/siroka-kolindina-potpora-s-proslih-izbora-svela-se-samo-na-hdz-zavrsen-ciklus-grupiranja-stranaka-oko-kandidata-analiziramo-tko-je-najbolje-prosao/9420671/|title=ŠIROKA KOLINDINA POTPORA S PROŠLIH IZBORA SVELA SE SAMO NA HDZ Završen ciklus grupiranja stranaka oko kandidata: Analiziramo tko je najbolje prošao...|publisher=Jutarnji list|date=30 September 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://emedjimurje.rtl.hr/vijesti/politika/3581809/mds-daje-podrsku-kandidaturi-zorana-milanovica-za-predsjednika-republike-hrvatske/|title=MDS daje podršku kandidaturi Zorana Milanovića za predsjednika Republike Hrvatske — eMedjimurje.hr|website=emedjimurje.rtl.hr|date=15 October 2019 |access-date=10 December 2020}}

The first round of the election took place on 22 December 2019, with Milanović winning a plurality of 29.55% of the vote, ahead of Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, who received 26.65% of the vote.{{cite web |title=Zoran Milanović relativni pobjednik izbora, u drugi krug i Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović |url=http://novilist.hr/Vijesti/Hrvatska/Zoran-Milanovic-relativni-pobjednik-izbora-u-drugi-krug-i-Kolinda-Grabar-Kitarovic |website=novilist.hr |access-date=3 January 2020 |archive-date=3 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200103085222/http://novilist.hr/Vijesti/Hrvatska/Zoran-Milanovic-relativni-pobjednik-izbora-u-drugi-krug-i-Kolinda-Grabar-Kitarovic |url-status=dead }} Miroslav Škoro, who was running as an independent candidate, narrowly failed to reach the run-off election, managing to attract the support of 24.45% of voters. Therefore, this election marked the first time in Croatian history that the incumbent president did not receive the highest number of votes in the first round. Furthermore, Milanović attained both the lowest number of votes (562,779) and the lowest percentage of the vote of any winning candidate in the first round of a presidential election.{{cite web|url=https://www.izbori.hr/site/UserDocsImages/2263|title=Službene stranice Državnog izbornog povjerenstva Republike Hrvatske – Naslovna|website=izbori.hr|access-date=6 June 2021}} Milanović received a plurality of the vote in Croatia's three largest cities: 33.02% in Zagreb, 30.79% in Split and 41.87% in Rijeka, and finished second (25.61%) in the fourth largest city, Osijek, which was won by Škoro (33.33%).{{cite web|url=https://www.izbori.hr/pre2019/rezultati/1/index.html|title=Službene stranice Državnog izbornog povjerenstva Republike Hrvatske – Naslovna|website=izbori.hr|access-date=10 December 2020}}

A run-off election took place between Milanović and Grabar-Kitarović on 5 January 2020. Milanović won by a margin of close to 105,000 votes, thereby becoming the 5th President of Croatia since independence and the second president to have been officially nominated by the Social Democratic Party, after Ivo Josipović (2010–2015).{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-51006754|title=Croatia elects centre-left challenger as president|date=6 January 2020|access-date=6 January 2020|language=en-GB}} Since his electoral victory, the newly elected president Zoran Milanović has made his first public appearance at an official event in Rijeka. There he attended the inaugural ceremony of Rijeka as the European Capital of Culture 2020.{{Cite news|url=https://vlada.gov.hr/news/pm-says-gov-t-strongly-supported-rijeka-as-european-capital-of-culture-project/28740|title=PM says gov't strongly supported Rijeka as European Capital of Culture project|date=7 February 2020|access-date=27 February 2020|language=en-GB}} He met with the mayor Vojko Obersnel, commended the artists, the day-long programme and the opening ceremony.{{Cite news|url=https://www.total-croatia-news.com/politics/41239-milanovic|title=Milanović: Friends from Ljubljana Are Our Most Natural Allies |date=2 February 2020|access-date=27 February 2020|language=en-GB}} Milanović also praised the founders of punk rock in Rijeka and its 44-year-old tradition, stating that, "By the time when the Paraf were having their first concert, Sid Vicious hadn't been singing in the Sex Pistols yet. These facts are of crucial importance regarding the cultural map of Europe."{{Cite news|url=http://novilist.hr/Vijesti/Rijeka/Milanovic-U-vrijeme-kad-su-Parafi-imali-prvi-koncert-Sid-Vicious-jos-nije-pjevao-u-Sex-Pistolsima?meta_refresh=true|title=Milanović: U vrijeme kad su Parafi imali prvi koncert Sid Vicious još nije pjevao u Sex Pistolsima|date=1 February 2020|access-date=27 February 2020|language=hr}}

File:Zoran Milanović February 2020.jpg

The inauguration of Milanović as the 5th president of Croatia took place on 18 February 2020. This was the first time that a presidential inauguration ceremony in Croatia was not held at St. Mark's Square in the city center of Zagreb, where the parliament and government buildings are located. Instead, Milanović decided to forgo the usual pomp of the ceremony by inviting merely some 40 guests, including state officials, former presidents, his family and members of his campaign team.{{Cite news|url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-02/18/c_138796359.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200227145451/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-02/18/c_138796359.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 February 2020|title=Zoran Milanovic inaugurated as Croatian president|date=27 February 2020|access-date=27 February 2020|language=en-GB}} This was also the first time that party leaders, diplomats and church dignitaries did not attend a presidential inauguration.{{Cite news|url=http://hr.n1info.com/English/NEWS/a484109/Zoran-Milanovic-inaugurated-as-Croatia-s-fifth-president-in-low-key-ceremony.html|title=Zoran Milanovic inaugurated as Croatia's fifth president in low-key ceremony|date=18 February 2020|access-date=27 February 2020|language=en-GB|archive-date=27 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200227145451/http://hr.n1info.com/English/NEWS/a484109/Zoran-Milanovic-inaugurated-as-Croatia-s-fifth-president-in-low-key-ceremony.html|url-status=dead}} The ceremony began with the performance of the national anthem by renowned Croatian pop and jazz diva Josipa Lisac, accompanied by pianist Zvjezdan Ružić, whose alternative rendition of Croatia's national anthem struck a different tone to the national anthem's usual sombre, bombastic delivery.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxgRBrx5R2E |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/oxgRBrx5R2E |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Josipa Lisac pjeva himnu uz klavirsku pratnju Zvjezdana Ružića, na inauguraciji Zorana Milanovića|via=YouTube|date=18 February 2020 |access-date=10 December 2020}}{{cbignore}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-europe-51593984/singer-josipa-lisac-sued-for-mocking-croatian-national-anthem|title=Singer Josipa Lisac sued for 'mocking' Croatian national anthem|date=21 February 2020|access-date=27 February 2020|language=en-GB}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-51592775|title=Croatian singer faces criminal charges for 'mocking' national anthem|date=21 February 2020|access-date=27 February 2020|language=en-GB}}
"...While some find it deep, artistic and special, others see it as mockery as performance not worth of the National Anthem." This caused a lot of positive comments and negative reactions, which resulted in an unprecedented public debate about the national anthem and artistic freedom.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thedubrovniktimes.com/news/croatia/item/8248-croatian-singer-josipa-lisac-gets-sued-for-her-performance-of-the-national-anthem|title=Croatian singer Josipa Lisac gets sued for her performance of the National Anthem |date=20 February 2020|access-date=27 February 2020|language=en-GB}}
"...While some find it deep, artistic and special, others see it as mockery as performance not worth of the National Anthem."{{Cite news|url=https://net.hr/danas/hrvatska/josipa-lisac-izvedbom-lijepe-nase-izazvala-rasprave-to-nije-moja-himna-kazu-jedni-drugi-uzvracaju-kad-sluh-ostrite-na-narodnjacima/|title=JOSIPA LISAC IZVEDBOM 'LIJEPE NAŠE' IZAZVALA RASPRAVE: 'To nije moja himna…', kažu jedni, drugi uzvraćaju: 'Kad sluh oštrite na narodnjacima'|date=18 February 2020|access-date=27 February 2020|language=hr|archive-date=27 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200227145451/https://net.hr/danas/hrvatska/josipa-lisac-izvedbom-lijepe-nase-izazvala-rasprave-to-nije-moja-himna-kazu-jedni-drugi-uzvracaju-kad-sluh-ostrite-na-narodnjacima/|url-status=dead}}

File:Visita del presidente del Gobierno Pedro Sánchez a Croacia en 2021 (7).jpg, 6 October 2021]]

On 24 February 2020, Milanović strongly condemned the burning of an effigy showing a same-sex couple with their child at a festival in Imotski, describing the incident as an "inhumane, totally unacceptable act", demanded an apology from the organizers of the event and stated that they "deserve the strongest condemnation of the public because hatred for others, intolerance and inhumanity are not and will not be a Croatian tradition".{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/croatia-effigy-same-sex-couple-president-zoran-milanovic-lgbt-rights-a9358221.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220507/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/croatia-effigy-same-sex-couple-president-zoran-milanovic-lgbt-rights-a9358221.html |archive-date=7 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Outrage after effigy of same-sex couple and child burned at festival in Croatia|date=26 February 2020|access-date=27 February 2020|language=en}}{{cbignore}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-croatia-lgbt-rights/croatias-president-condemns-burning-of-gay-couple-effigy-idUSKCN20I20P|title=Croatia's president condemns burning of gay couple effigy|date=24 February 2020|access-date=27 February 2020|language=en}} He also demanded a reaction from the relevant institutions especially as the event was observed by many children who could witness the spreading of hatred and inciting to violence.

Milanović made his first trip abroad as president on 27 February 2020 to Otočec ob Krki, Slovenia, where he met with president Borut Pahor. The two of them firmly concluded that they would do everything to improve and make the relations between the two countries excellent, pointing out that they had known each other for over 16 years. They also discussed about the border issue between the two countries, Croatian accession to the Schengen Area and about the border controls implemented by the Croatian government due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Milanović also addressed the European perspective of Montenegro, Albania and North Macedonia.{{Cite news|url=http://hr.n1info.com/Vijesti/a486485/Predsjednici-Hrvatske-i-Slovenije-zele-bolje-odnose-unatoc-problemcicima.html|title=Predsjednici Hrvatske i Slovenije žele bolje odnose unatoč "problemčićima"|date=27 February 2020|access-date=27 February 2020|language=hr|archive-date=27 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200227185433/http://hr.n1info.com/Vijesti/a486485/Predsjednici-Hrvatske-i-Slovenije-zele-bolje-odnose-unatoc-problemcicima.html|url-status=dead}}

File:03.06.2024 - Declaração à imprensa (53767162278).jpg Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, during his official visit to Brazil, Brasília, June 3, 2024.]]

During the summer, Milanović visited Montenegro and met with president Milo Đukanović. He also canceled his planned trip to Russia, where president Vladimir Putin invited him to attend the 2020 Victory Day parade. In September and October, he got involved in a verbal confrontation with a number of prominent Croatian politicians, political analysts and journalists, including the prime minister Andrej Plenković.{{Cite web|date=7 October 2020|title=Milanović sada napada GONG, a evo kako ga je hvalio kao premijer|url=https://hr.n1info.com/vijesti/a561748-Milanovic-sada-napada-GONG-a-evo-kako-ga-je-hvalio-kao-premijer/|access-date=24 January 2021|website=N1 HR|language=hr}} He voiced his opposition to lockdown and curfew, as he said he would arrest and put in a police van those wanting curfew and lockdown.{{Cite web|date=30 October 2020|title=Milanović: One koji spominju uvođenje policijskog sata treba strpati u maricu. Ne želim za to ni čuti. Što da stanemo kao kad je umro Tito u 15.05?|url=https://slobodnadalmacija.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/milanovic-one-koji-spominju-uvodenje-policijskog-sata-treba-strpati-u-maricu-ne-zelim-za-to-ni-cuti-sto-da-stanemo-kao-kad-je-umro-tito-u-15-05-1054354|access-date=24 January 2021|website=Slobodna Dalmacija|language=hr}}

In January 2021, Milanović refused to participate in a ceremony commemorating the 1993 Operation Maslenica because the Croatian Defence Forces′ symbols were to be displayed.{{cite news |title=Milanović napustio protokol za Maslenicu zbog majica s natpisom 'za dom spremni' |url=https://www.vecernji.hr/vijesti/milanovic-napustio-protokol-za-maslenicu-jer-su-dvije-osobe-nosile-majicu-s-natpisom-za-dom-spremni-1462900 |access-date=23 January 2021 |work=Večernji List |date=22 January 2021}} In September 2021, he publicly voiced his opinion that Bunjevci are Croatians. The national council of Bunjevci responded harshly to his statements, stating that Bunjevci had been living in Subotica for 350 years and that the difference between Bunjevci and Croats was clearly attested by historical sources.{{Cite web|url=https://www.danas.rs/politika/nacionalni-savet-bunjevaca-milanovicu-cuvamo-posebnost-naseg-identiteta/|title=Nacionalni savet Bunjevaca Milanoviću: Čuvamo posebnost našeg identiteta|date=30 September 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bunjevci.org.rs/?view=article&id=95:saopstenje-nacionalnog-saveta-bunjevacke-nacionalne-manjine-povodom-izjave-zorana-milanovica-pridsidnika-republike-hrvatske&catid=9|title = Bunjevački nacionalni savet – Saopštenje Nacionalnog savita bunjevačke nacionalne manjine povodom izjave Zorana Milanovića, pridsidnika Republike Hrvatske}}

File:President_Milanović_(7136654).jpg, Pula.]]

In November 2021, Austria's foreign ministry summoned the Croatian ambassador in Vienna, Daniel Glunčić, to give an explanation, after Milanović compared the lockdown in Austria to the methods employed in the era of Nazism.{{cite web| url = https://rs.n1info.com/region/zbog-izjava-milanovica-oko-austrijskih-kovid-mera-ambasador-pozvan-na-razgovor/| title = Zbog izjava Milanovića oko austrijskih kovid mera ambasador pozvan na razgovor |date=17 November 2021}}

{{Main|Russian invasion of Ukraine|Croatia and the Russo-Ukrainian War}}

In December 2021, Milanović criticised prime minister Plenković's visit to Ukraine made at the start of a new escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian war calling it "plain charlatanism".{{cite web|title=Milanović kritizirao Plenkovićev posjet Kijevu: "Obično šarlatanstvo. Zbrisat će u Bruxelles ako zagusti" |url=https://www.nacional.hr/milanovic-kritizirao-plenkovicev-posjet-kijevu-obicno-sarlatanstvo-zbrisat-ce-u-bruxelles-ako-zagusti/ |publisher=Nacional|date=9 December 2021|access-date=26 January 2022}}{{Cite web|title=PM: Croatia's relationship with Ukraine is in no way against Russia |url=https://hr.n1info.com/english/news/pm-croatias-relationship-with-ukraine-is-in-no-way-against-russia/ |date=9 December 2021|publisher=N1}} The prime minister responded by saying that the government sought to maintain good relations with Russia too.

File:Family photo of the 2023 Vilnius Summit.jpg]]

Harsh reaction from Ukraine's government followed Milanović's statements made on 25 January 2022 about Ukraine not being fit to join NATO, as well the country being corrupt and Russia deserving to be given a way to have its security demands met.{{cite web|title=Croatia to recall all troops from NATO in case of Russia-Ukraine conflict|url=https://tass.com/world/1392873 |publisher=TASS|date=25 January 2022|access-date=25 January 2022}}{{Cite web|title=VIDEO Milanović: Ja sam zapovjednik vojske, hrvatski vojnici neće ići u Ukrajinu|url=https://www.index.hr/vijesti/clanak/video-milanovic-ja-sam-zapovjednik-vojske-hrvatski-vojnici-nece-ici-u-ukrajinu/2334864.aspx|date=25 January 2022|publisher=Index.hr|language=hr}}{{Cite web|title=Milanovic: Ukraine does not belong in NATO |url=https://hr.n1info.com/english/news/milanovic-ukraine-does-not-belong-in-nato/ |date=25 January 2022|publisher=N1}} Milanović also referred to the 2014 Maidan Revolution in Ukraine as a "coup d'état".{{Cite web|url=https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-polytics/3391951-croatia-pm-apologizes-to-ukrainians-for-presidents-statement.html|publisher=Ukrinform|title=Croatia PM apologizes to Ukrainians for president's statement |date=26 January 2022}}{{Cite web|title=Croatia sows confusion with threat to pull NATO troops over Ukraine crisis |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/croatia-withdraw-military-from-nato-conflict-ukraine-russia/ |date=25 January 2022|work=Politico}} The foreign ministry of Ukraine summoned Croatian ambassador Anica Djamić, whereafter the ministry issued a comment that said that Zoran Milanović's statements retransmit Russian propaganda narratives, do not correspond to Croatia's consistent official position in support of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, harm bilateral relations and undermine unity within the EU and NATO in the face of current security threats in Europe. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine demands a public refutation of these insulting statements by the President of Croatia, as well as non-repetition in the future."{{Cite web|title=Comment of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine on the statements of President of Croatia Zoran Milanović |url=https://mfa.gov.ua/en/news/komentar-mzs-ukrayini-shchodo-zayav-prezidenta-horvatiyi-zorana-milanovicha|date=25 January 2022|publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine}}{{Cite web|title=Ukraine summons Croatian ambassador to Kyiv over Milanovic's remarks |url=https://hr.n1info.com/english/news/ukraine-summons-croatian-ambassador-to-kyiv-over-milanovics-remarks/|date=26 January 2022|publisher=N1}} The same day, he was included in the blacklist of Myrotvorets.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/5182075|publisher=Kommersant|title=Президент Хорватии попал в базу "Миротворца" за "антиукраинскую пропаганду"|language=ru |date=26 January 2022}} Russia's pro-government media outlets gave Milanović's pronouncements much publicity, presenting them as a sign of a split in the ranks of the EU and NATO and predicting that other EU leaders would follow suit.{{cite web|url=https://www.jutarnji.hr/vijesti/svijet/zoran-milanovic-novi-ruski-heroj-konacno-je-netko-rekao-ono-sto-svi-u-eu-misle-15149988 |title=Zoran Milanović, novi ruski heroj: 'Konačno je netko rekao ono što svi u EU misle!' |language=hr |publisher=Jutarnji list |date=2022-01-26 |access-date=2022-01-27}} Croatia's prime minister Plenković reacted by saying that on hearing Milanović's statements he thought it was being said "by some Russian official"; he also offered apologies to Ukraine and reiterated that Croatia supported Ukraine's territorial integrity.{{Cite web|title=VIDEO Plenković o Milanovićevoj izjavi o Ukrajini i Rusiji: Ispričavam se Ukrajincima|url=https://www.index.hr/vijesti/clanak/video-plenkovic-o-milanovicevim-izjavama-nestvarno-ispricavam-se-ukrajincima/2335005.aspx|date=25 January 2022|publisher=Index.hr|language=hr}} In an interview with the RTL television network shortly after, Milanović refused to apologise and re-affirmed his stance on Ukraine and went on to say that he thought that prime minister Andrej Plenković "behaved like an agent of Ukraine".{{Cite web|title=President: I am neither enemy of Ukraine nor friend to Russia |url=https://hr.n1info.com/english/news/president-i-am-neither-enemy-of-ukraine-nor-friend-to-russia/|date=28 January 2022|publisher=N1}}{{Cite web|title=Milanović za RTL: 'Neka se Plenković ispričava. On se ponaša kao ukrajinski agent, a ja kao hrvatski predsjednik |url=https://www.rtl.hr/vijesti-hr/novosti/hrvatska/4183554/milanovic-za-rtl-neka-se-plenkovic-ispricava-on-se-ponasa-kao-ukrajinski-agent-a-ja-kao-hrvatski-predsjednik/ |date=28 January 2022|publisher=RTL television network|language=hr}} On 1 March 2022, Milanović stated: "one has to be concerned when Ukraine threatens to use nuclear weapons, or when Russia threatens to use nuclear weapons."{{Cite web |title=Milanović: Ukrajinci nisu dali dobar otpor, a nama su naši problemi veći od njihovih |url=https://www.index.hr/clanak.aspx?id=2343973 |access-date=2022-03-29 |website=www.index.hr |language=hr}}

File:President Joe Biden salutes as the Army Fife and Drum Corps performs a “Troop in Review” during an official arrival ceremony with NATO leaders and their spouses on July 10, 2024 at the White House.jpg leaders on July 10, 2024 at the White House, Washington, D.C.]]

On 1 February 2022, as the UK defence secretary Ben Wallace was in Zagreb for a meeting with his Croatian counterpart, Mario Banožić, to discuss the security situation caused by the crisis over Ukraine, Milanović told the press he thought Britain was "misleading Ukraine, inciting it, and holding it hostage to the relationship between London, which ha[d] become a second-order power, and Washington"; he also said Ukraine would "not make itself happy if it listen[ed] to London" and voiced his opinion that the EU could not enjoy stability without settlement with Russia.{{Cite web|title=President Milanovic accuses the West of 'warmongering' over Ukraine crisis |url=https://hr.n1info.com/english/news/president-milanovic-accuses-the-west-of-warmongering-over-ukraine-crisis/ |date=1 February 2022|publisher=N1}}{{Cite web|title= Croat president slams UK, demands agreement with Russia|url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/short_news/croat-president-slams-uk-demands-agreement-with-russia/ |date=2 February 2022|publisher=Euractiv}}{{Cite web|title=Milanović ne da vojnicima u Ukrajinu, vlast optužio za korupciju: "Ako je pola toga istina, to je razlog za pad Vlade" |url=https://dnevnik.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/predsjednik-zoran-milanovic-daje-izjavu-za-medije---694328.html |date=1 February 2022|publisher=Dnevnik.hr|language=hr}} Shortly after, former Russian ambassador to Croatia Anvar Azimov welcomed "the reasonable statements of president Zoran Milanović about Ukraine", while Croatian weekly Globus opined that Milanović proved to be the only statesman in the EU and NATO, who "so openly demonstrated his acceptance of Russia, relativised its actions, and criticised America, Britain and other NATO allies for the current tensions".{{Cite web|title=Azimov za Večernji: 'Rat Rusije protiv Ukrajine potpuni je blef, a SAD treba prihvatiti jednu činjenicu' |url=https://www.vecernji.hr/vijesti/azimov-za-vecernji-rat-rusije-protiv-ukrajine-potpuni-je-blef-a-sad-treba-prihvatiti-jednu-cinjenicu-1561530 |date=8 February 2022|publisher=Večernji list|language=hr}}, # 20820, p.9.Putinov najdraži predsjednik: Kako je Milanović približio Pantovčak Kremlju i šokirao Bruxelles // Globus, 9 February 2022, # 1547, p. 13. When being asked by journalists about the Bucha massacre, Milanović responded: "That is far away, I know nothing about that. The Russians withdrew. What was found there, who found it, from Croatian experience, don't ask me about that, be careful." On the same occasion, he said that Ukraine isn't a democratic state "otherwise they would [already] start negotiations with the EU or had some status".{{Cite web |title=VIDEO Milanović: Ukrajina nije demokratska država |url=https://www.index.hr/clanak.aspx?id=2353182 |access-date=2022-04-04 |website=www.index.hr |language=hr}} In June Milanović again commented on the war in Ukraine by saying: "Zelenskyy's words lead to defeat, once Russian boot arrives somewhere, it never leaves. It is a powerful military force. Russia is not like us, they are not a democracy. As an enemy, they are indestructible."{{Cite web |title=VIDEO Milanović: Ovo što Zelenskij radi vodi u poraz, Rusija je neuništiva |url=https://www.index.hr/clanak.aspx?id=2371276 |access-date=2022-06-10 |website=www.index.hr |language=hr}} In September 2022, Milanović characterised the EU's Ukraine policy as "stupid" and not being in the interest of Croatia, nor Germany. He went on to say: "We're currently watching Russia emaciate Ukraine with a very small number of soldiers". He added that the West had for eight years failed to have Ukraine respect the Minsk agreements.{{Cite web |last=Đečević |first=Jasmin |date=2022-09-01 |title=Milanović: Politika EU prema ratu u Ukrajini je glupa. Pa pogledajte što je Tuđman bio spreman napraviti |url=https://www.novilist.hr/novosti/hrvatska/milanovic-politika-eu-prema-ratu-u-ukrajini-je-glupa-pa-pogledajte-sto-je-tudman-bio-spreman-napraviti/ |access-date=2022-09-02 |website=Novi list |language=en}}

In the aftermath of the Tu-141 drone crash in Zagreb, Milanović issued the order to ban NATO's aircraft flights over Zagreb and other Croatian cities, stating that the flights "disturb the citizens". By doing so, he continued his conflict with prime minister Plenković, who said that these flights are supposed to send the message of "strategic partnership and safety of Croatian citizens".{{Cite web |date=2022-03-15 |title=Jutarnji list – Milanović izdao zapovijed Hranju: 'Najstrože zabranjujem prelete vojnih aviona iznad Zagreba i svih drugih gradova!' |url=https://www.jutarnji.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/milanovic-izdao-zapovijed-hranju-najstroze-zabranjujem-prelete-vojnih-aviona-iznad-zagreba-i-svih-drugih-gradova-15170665 |access-date=2022-07-09 |website=www.jutarnji.hr |language=hr-hr}} After the EU announced the possibility of training Ukrainian troops on its territory, including in Croatia, Milanović announced he was blocking this decision because, according to him that would bring the war to Croatia.{{Cite web |last=Telegram.hr |title=Milanović će, kaže, blokirati obuku ukrajinskih vojnika u Hrvatskoj: 'To bi bilo dovođenje rata kod nas' |url=https://www.telegram.hr/politika-kriminal/milanovic-ce-kaze-blokirati-obuku-ukrajinskih-vojnika-u-hrvatskoj-to-bi-bilo-dovodenje-rata-kod-nas/ |access-date=2022-10-18 |website=Telegram.hr |language=hr}}{{Cite web |date=2022-10-18 |title=Jutarnji list – Doznajemo detalje: Ukrajinski vojnici bi na obuku dolazili u Hrvatsku, HV bi oformio i mobilne timove instruktora? |url=https://www.jutarnji.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/doznajemo-detalje-ukrajinski-vojnici-bi-na-obuku-dolazili-u-hrvatsku-hv-bi-oformio-i-mobilne-timove-instruktora-15263305 |access-date=2022-10-18 |website=www.jutarnji.hr |language=hr-hr}} In late January 2023, Milanović said: "from 2014 to 2022 we observed how someone provoked Russia, with intent of instigating this war. ... Now we talk about tanks. We will send all German tanks there, as the Russian ones burned. The same destiny awaits the others..."{{Cite web |title=UŽIVO Milanović o ratu u Ukrajini: "Neki u EU parlamentu govore o 'kidanju Rusije' – to je mahnito. Mi i Srbi se nismo toliko mrzili" |url=https://dnevnik.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/predsjednik-zoran-milanovic-u-petrinji---763650.html |access-date=2023-01-30 |website=Dnevnik.hr |language=hr |quote="Od 2014. do 2022. mi gledamo kako netko provocira Rusiju s namjerom da ovaj rat izbije. Izbio je. Prošlo je godinu dana, mi tek sada razgovaramo o tenkovima. Sve njemačke tenkove ćemo tamo poslati, ruski su izgorjeli. Ista sudbina očekuje i ove druge", dodao je Milanović.}} In March 2023 Milanović gave a statement saying that Croatian donation of Mi-8 transport helicopters to Ukraine: "will lead to mass bloodshed, mass casualties and it extends the war"{{Cite web |last=Index.rs |date=2023-03-17 |title=Milanović: Vlada je poslala helikoptere Ukrajini, to vodi do masovnog krvoprolića |url=https://nova.rs/vesti/svet/milanovic-vlada-je-poslala-helikoptere-ukrajini-to-vodi-do-masovnog-krvoprolica/ |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=NOVA portal |language=sr-RS}} In June same year, he claimed that: "Ustaše were gentlemen in comparison with those who fought by the salute "slava Ukraini".{{Cite web |title=Milanović: Ustaše su bili kavaliri za one koji su se borili uz pozdrav Slava Ukrajini |url=https://www.tportal.hr/vijesti/clanak/milanovic-ustase-su-bili-kavaliri-za-one-koji-su-se-borili-uz-pozdrav-slava-ukrajini-foto-20230610 |access-date=2023-06-10 |website=tportal.hr}} In October 2024, Milanović spoke against the Croatian government's initiative for Croatian participation in NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine mission in Wiesenbaden, Germany, saying that it did not matter whether the personnel would be in "Wiesenbaden, Baden-Baden, or in Kiev", that those who concealed the fact that there were NATO soldiers physically in Ukraine deceived the European public.{{Cite web |last=Hrvatska |first=N1 |date=2024-10-08 |title=VIDEO / Milanović: Tko skriva da su vojnici fizički u Ukrajini, obmanjuje javnost |url=https://n1info.hr/vijesti/video-milanovic-o-ukrajini-neka-oni-koji-produzuju-rat-salju-tamo-svoju-djecu/ |access-date=2024-10-08 |website=N1 |language=hr}}

File:Milanovićev predizborni plakat (cropped).jpg with a message: "Normally – the Croatian soldier will not wage wars of others'."]]

After being reelected on 2024–25 Croatian presidential election, Milanović in one of his first statements said that: "Ursula von den Leyen and Kaja Kallas are two women that cannot speak on behalf of Croatia." He also said that Moscow will decide which peacekeeping forces will arrive to Ukraine and what weapons will they carry, in response to Franco-British proposal of sending 30,000 troops to Ukraine. He described the idea as: "dreams of the grandchildren of those who led the Crimean War."{{Cite web |date=2025-02-25 |title=Jutarnji list - Milanović: 'U ime Hrvatske ne mogu govoriti te dvije žene! Ukrajina? Rusija jednu stvar nikad neće prihvatiti! |url=https://www.jutarnji.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/milanovic-u-ime-hrvatske-ne-mogu-govoriti-te-dvije-zene-ukrajina-rusija-jednu-stvar-nikad-nece-prihvatiti-15556882 |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=www.jutarnji.hr |language=hr-hr}} Few days later, during the official visit to Slovenia, Milanović again commented war in Ukraine by saying that "the unjust peace is better than the continuation of the war."{{Cite web |title=Milanović u Ljubljani: I nepravedan mir bolji je od rata |url=https://vijesti.hrt.hr/eu/predsjednik-milanovic-u-prvom-inozemnom-posjetu-u-ljubljani-12032824 |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=Hrvatska radiotelevizija |language=hr}} During his March 2025 visit to Montenegro, Milanović stated that: "Russia is a country that 'has made mistakes on many things,' but it does not pose a threat to Europe."{{Cite web |title=Milanović pozdravio izjavu Anušića: 'Rusija ne predstavlja opasnost za Europu' |url=https://www.tportal.hr/vijesti/clanak/milanovic-pozdravio-izjavu-anusica-rusija-ne-predstavlja-opasnost-za-europu-20250326 |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=tportal.hr}} He also called Coalition of the willing "dangerous and irresponsible" as "EU does not participate, nor will it participate, in peace negotiations, and Russia would not agree to such forces in any case."

File:Pääministeri Sanna Marin ja Krotian presidentti Zoran Milanović (52162893498).jpg, 21 June 2022]]

In April 2022, Milanović suggested blocking Finnish and Swedish accession to NATO until an electoral law in Bosnia and Herzegovina allowing Bosniaks the option of electing a Croat member of the presidency and Croat representatives in the House of Peoples of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina was changed. He went on to say that he would label as a political traitor any member of Croatia's Parliament, the Sabor, who refused to vote against the expansion of NATO.{{Cite web |title=Milanović: Tko ne bude glasao protiv proširenja NATO-a, ja ću ga nazvati izdajnikom |url=https://www.index.hr/clanak.aspx?id=2360689 |access-date=2022-05-01 |website=www.index.hr |language=hr}} On 28 April 2022, Foreign Minister Gordan Grlić-Radman announced that Croatia supported Finland's and Sweden's applications for membership in NATO.{{Cite web |title=Grlic-Radman: Croatia supports Nato membership for Finland and Sweden|url=https://n1info.hr/english/news/grlic-radman-croatia-supports-nato-membership-for-finland-and-sweden/|access-date=2022-04-28 |website=www.n1info.hr|date=28 April 2022 |language=en }}

On 18 May 2022, Milanović said in a statement regarding the NATO membership of Finland and Sweden that Croatia's stance on the NATO membership of Finland and Sweden should be similar to the status of Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina and he said that Turkey's stance regarding the membership of the two countries reveals the functioning of serious states.{{Cite web |title=President to instruct ambassador to vote against Finland and Sweden's NATO bid|url=https://n1info.hr/english/news/president-to-instruct-ambassador-to-vote-against-finland-and-swedens-nato-bid/|access-date=2022-05-18 |website=www.n1info.hr|date=18 May 2022 |language=en }}

After Finland's foreign minister, Pekka Haavisto, stated that his country was shocked by Milanović's statements, Milanović responded by saying: "Welcome to the club, Mister Foreign Minister. We have been shocked for several years already by your ignorance and rudeness."{{Cite web |date=2022-05-13 |title=Croatian President accuses Finland of "ignoring Croatia's interests" |url=https://hr.n1info.com/english/news/croatian-president-accuses-finland-of-ignoring-croatias-interests/ |access-date=2022-05-13 |website=N1 |language=hr}} However, the Finnish Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering, Tytti Tuppurainen, later commented that although the citizens of Finland were confused by Milanović's statements, Finland understood Croatian concerns about the reform of the electoral law in Bosnia and Herzegovina and that Finland supported international efforts to change the law.{{cite news|url=https://www.index.hr/vijesti/clanak/finska-ministrica-nasi-gradjani-su-malo-zbunjeni-zbog-izjava-milanovica/2369677.aspx |title=Finska ministrica: Naši građani su malo zbunjeni zbog izjava Milanovića |work=Index.hr |language=hr}} His prior comments notwithstanding, Milanović did not veto Finnish and Swedish NATO accession at the 2022 NATO Madrid summit.{{Cite web |title='Za Milanovića je veliki udarac bio kad mu je Selak Raspudić rekla – gdje si sad, frajeru. On samome sebi radi problem i ovo je njegov politički poraz' |url=https://www.tportal.hr/vijesti/clanak/za-milanovica-je-veliki-udarac-bio-kad-mu-je-selak-raspudic-rekla-gdje-si-sad-frajeru-on-samome-sebi-radi-problem-i-ovo-je-njegov-politicki-poraz-20220703 |access-date=2022-07-05 |website=tportal.hr}} In July 2022, the Croatian Parliament officially and unanimously accepted the applications of both Finland and Sweden to join NATO.{{Cite web |title=Croatia ratifies Nato accession for Finland and Sweden |url=https://n1info.hr/english/news/croatia-ratifies-nato-accession-for-finland-and-sweden/|website=www.n1info.hr |language=en|date=2022-07-15 }}

{{Main|Gaza war}}

In October 2023, Milanović criticized Israel's retaliatory strikes on the Gaza Strip, saying: "I condemned [Hamas'] murders, I even expressed disgust and abhorrence, but the right to defense does not include the right to revenge and the killing of civilians."{{cite news |title=Israel has lost my sympathy, says Croatia's president |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/israel-has-lost-my-sympathy-says-croatian-president/ |work=Politico |date=13 October 2023}} In October 2024, he compared "Netanyahu's regime" to Putin and said that for him: "both Netanyahu and Putin are defendants on International Criminal Court".{{Cite web |title=Milanović u Tivtu: NATO ulazi u rat u Ukrajini |url=https://vijesti.hrt.hr/svijet/u-tijeku-plenarna-sjednica-procesa-brdo-brijuni-11798330 |access-date=2024-10-08 |website=Hrvatska radiotelevizija |language=hr}}

{{Main|2024 Croatian parliamentary election}}

On 15 March 2024, Milanović announced his candidacy for the office of Prime Minister on the SDP list in the parliamentary election.[https://www.jutarnji.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/igra-na-sve-ili-nista-milanovic-je-upravo-ucinio-nesto-sto-nikome-prije-njega-nije-palo-na-pamet-15439474 Igra na sve ili ništa: Milanović je upravo učinio nešto što nikome prije njega nije palo na pamet][https://slobodnadalmacija.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/milanovic-ide-na-parlamentarne-izbore-s-sdp-om-1372555 Milanović daje ostavku na mjesto predsjednika? Bit će kandidat za premijera, ide na parlamentarne izbore sa SDP-om!][https://dnevnik.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/zoran-milanovic-otkrio-da-ide-na-izbore-i-s-kim---838148.html Milanović ide na izbore sa SDP-om: Bit će kandidat za premijera] However, the Constitutional Court ruled that Milanović may not be a candidate nor could he actively participate in support of the SDP during the election campaign,{{Cite web |date=18 March 2024 |title='IZBORI POD STROGIM NADZOROM' / Ustavni sud prelomio! 'Neka Milanović i SDP odmah prestanu! Možemo poništiti izbore!' |trans-title='ELECTIONS UNDER STRICT SUPERVISION' / The Constitutional Court overruled! Let Milanović and the SDP stop immediately! We can cancel the election!' |url=https://net.hr/danas/vijesti/uzivo-ustavni-sud-donio-je-odluku-o-milanovicevoj-kandidaturi-na-izborima-d70c2078-e4fe-11ee-a346-b67d0c6ce500 |access-date=18 March 2024 |website=net.hr |language=hr |archive-date=18 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240318122320/https://net.hr/danas/vijesti/uzivo-ustavni-sud-donio-je-odluku-o-milanovicevoj-kandidaturi-na-izborima-d70c2078-e4fe-11ee-a346-b67d0c6ce500 |url-status=live }} unless he resigns from the presidency. In response, Milanović described the ruling as "done in a gangster way".{{Cite web |date=18 March 2024 |title=Croatia's top court rules that the president can't run in the parliamentary election unless he quits |url=https://apnews.com/article/croatia-election-constitutional-court-milanovic-plenkovic-2ee8c7af0e9a54cce4ba2136b1280791 |access-date=19 March 2024 |website=Associated Press |language=en |archive-date=18 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240318150147/https://apnews.com/article/croatia-election-constitutional-court-milanovic-plenkovic-2ee8c7af0e9a54cce4ba2136b1280791 |url-status=live }} In the election held in April, Milanović's Rivers of Justice coalition placed second in the election,{{Cite web |date=18 April 2024 |title=Croatia's ruling conservatives win parliamentary vote, but cannot rule alone |url=https://apnews.com/article/croatia-election-european-union-plenkovic-milanovic-b3a93b2598f60ebfdf663815dda2c0ad |work=Associated Press |url-status=live |access-date=18 April 2024 |archive-date=18 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418044737/https://apnews.com/article/croatia-election-european-union-plenkovic-milanovic-b3a93b2598f60ebfdf663815dda2c0ad }} precluding his chances of becoming prime minister.

{{Main|2024–25 Croatian presidential election}}

Milanović ran for a second presidential term in December 2024. Despite coming at first place, he narrowly failed to win an outright majority with 49% of the vote, resulting in a runoff election in January 2025 against Dragan Primorac of the HDZ.{{Cite web |url=https://apnews.com/article/croatia-election-presidential-milanovic-de56eda2458bcffc86055c2e3471a7b8 |title=Croatia's incumbent president gains most votes for re-election, but not enough to avoid a runoff |access-date=30 December 2024 |website=Associated Press|date=30 December 2024 }} Milanović proceeded to win the runoff, gaining 74.69% of the votes, making him the president of Croatia once again. Milanović's share of the vote was the highest for a presidential candidate in Croatia since independence in 1991.{{Cite web |date=13 January 2025 |title=Croatia populist president re-elected in landslide |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250112-croatia-s-populist-president-appears-set-for-re-election |access-date=13 January 2025 |website=France 24|language=en}}

It’s worth noting, however, that the turnout stood at only 44%, the lowest since Croatia gained independence in 1991.

• Cabinet of Zoran Milanović
• List of international presidential trips made by Zoran Milanović

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{Cite book|last=Bajruši|first=Robert|url=http://library.foi.hr/lib/knjiga.php?B=31&sqlid=31&sqlx=80870&H=|title=Zoran Milanović. Politička biografija|date=2011|publisher=Naklada Jesenski i Turk.|isbn=978-953-222-423-8|edition=Biblioteka Političko pleme|location=Zagreb}}
• {{Cite book|last=Karlović Sabolić|first=Marina|url=http://library.foi.hr/lib/knjiga.php?B=31&H=&E=&V=&lok=&zbi=&item=91847&nivo=&upit=MILANOVI%25C6,%2520ZORAN|title=Zoran Milanović. Mladić koji je obećavao|date=2015|publisher=Profil knjiga.|location=Zagreb|isbn=978-953-313-445-1}}

• {{Cite thesis|title=Politička retorika Zorana Milanovića|url=https://urn.nsk.hr/urn:nbn:hr:156:936254|publisher=Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek. Department of Cultural studies. Chair in media culture|date=15 September 2016|degree= bachelor |language=hr|first=Edita|last=Prgomet}}
• {{Cite thesis|title=Analiza televizijskog sučeljavanja Andreja Plenkovića i Zorana Milanovića|url=https://urn.nsk.hr/urn:nbn:hr:146:519306|publisher=VERN University of Applied Sciences|date=18 September 2018|degree= bachelor |language=hr|first=Ana|last=Gotovina}}
• {{Cite thesis|title=ANALIZA NEVERBALNE I PARAVERBALNE KOMUNIKACIJE ZORANA MILANOVIĆA|url=https://urn.nsk.hr/urn:nbn:hr:180:522132|publisher=Zagreb School of Business|date=26 July 2018|degree= bachelor |language=hr|first=Ivana|last=Vrdoljak}}
• {{Cite thesis|title=Politički diskurs obraćanja Zorana Milanovića u Hrvatskom saboru|url=https://urn.nsk.hr/urn:nbn:hr:114:474553|publisher=University of Zagreb. The Faculty of Political Science. Department of Journalism and Media Production|date=15 September 2020|degree= master |language=hr|first=Ines|last=Sibneraj}}
• {{Cite thesis|title=Strateško upravljanje karakterom u izbornim kampanjama – slučaj Zorana Milanovića|url=https://urn.nsk.hr/urn:nbn:hr:114:547571|publisher=University of Zagreb. The Faculty of Political Science. Department of Strategic Communication|date=17 September 2020|degree= master |language=hr|first=Patricija|last=Topić}}
• {{Cite thesis|title=Retorika predsjedničke kampanje Zorana Milanovića na Facebooku 2019.|url=https://urn.nsk.hr/urn:nbn:hr:114:569665|publisher=University of Zagreb. The Faculty of Political Science|date=13 July 2020|degree= master |language=hr|first=Lucija|last=Ardalić}}
• {{Cite thesis|title=Politička komunikacija kandidata na Facebooku na predsjedničkim izborima 2019./2020.|url=https://urn.nsk.hr/urn:nbn:hr:114:138316|publisher=University of Zagreb. The Faculty of Political Science|date=17 September 2020|degree= master |language=hr|first=Lara|last=Perošević}}
• {{Cite thesis|title=Medijski imidž Zorana Milanovića|url=https://urn.nsk.hr/urn:nbn:hr:233:437055|publisher=The Edward Bernays College of Communication Management. Department of Public Relations|date=28 November 2016|degree= bachelor |language=hr|first=Gorana|last=Lokner}}
• {{Cite thesis|title=Analiza i usporedba inauguracije Kolinde Grabar-Kitarović i Zorana Milanovića|url=https://urn.nsk.hr/urn:nbn:hr:114:032272|publisher=University of Zagreb. The Faculty of Political Science|date=15 September 2020|degree= master |language=hr|first=Roberto|last=Klimeš}}
• {{Cite thesis|title=Politički stil kao alat političke komunikacije: usporedna analiza televizijskih nastupa Zorana Milanovića i Andreja Plenkovića u izbornoj kampanji 2016.|url=https://urn.nsk.hr/urn:nbn:hr:114:841148|publisher=University of Zagreb. The Faculty of Political Science|date=25 September 2017|degree=master|language=hr|first=Valentina|last=Baus}}
• {{Cite thesis|title=Artikulacija ideoloških rascjepa u govorima Zorana Milanovića i Tomislava Karamarka: analiza diskursa 2012. – 2016.|url=https://urn.nsk.hr/urn:nbn:hr:114:213890|publisher=University of Zagreb. The Faculty of Political Science. Department of Croatian Politics|date=28 September 2016|degree=master|language=hr|first=Marina|last=Čosić}}
• {{Cite thesis|title=Usporedba političke retorike predsjednika SDP-a od 2000. do 2019. godine|url=https://urn.nsk.hr/urn:nbn:hr:114:836445|publisher=University of Zagreb. The Faculty of Political Science. Department of Strategic Communication|date=23 September 2019|degree=master|language=hr|first=Marija|last=Dragušica}}
• {{Cite thesis|title=Populizam u komunikaciji predsjedničkih kandidata u izbornoj kampanji 2019. godine|url=https://urn.nsk.hr/urn:nbn:hr:114:972105|publisher=University of Zagreb. The Faculty of Political Science|date=21 September 2020|degree=master|language=hr|first=Marijana|last=Daničić}}
• {{Cite thesis|title=Predizborno sučeljavanje predsjedničkih kandidata na komercijalnim televizijama i javnom servisu na primjeru kampanje 2019. godine|url=https://urn.nsk.hr/urn:nbn:hr:114:142454|publisher=University of Zagreb. The Faculty of Political Science|date=14 September 2020|degree=master|language=hr|first=Ivana|last=Kopčić}}
• {{Cite thesis|title=Analiza neverbalne komunikacije kandidata za premijera tijekom političkog sučeljavanja na parlamentarnim izborima 2016.|url=https://urn.nsk.hr/urn:nbn:hr:146:781798|publisher=VERN University of Applied Sciences|date=18 April 2018|degree=bachelor|language=hr|first=Bruno|last=Car}}
• {{Cite thesis|title=Argumentacija u postčinjeničnom razdoblju na primjeru odabranih političkih debata|url=https://urn.nsk.hr/urn:nbn:hr:146:798487|publisher=VERN University of Applied Sciences|date=21 November 2018|degree=master|language=hr|first=Hrvoje|last=Mamić}}

• Denis Kuljiš. Prorok prije proroka: Briljantna priča o Zoranu Milanoviću. // START style & news, # 13, Spring 2020, pp. 71–73.

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{{commons category|Zoran Milanović}}

• {{cite web|url=http://arhiva.nacional.hr/en/articles/view/33608/18/|publisher=Nacional|title=Zoran Milanovic – The Rise of Racan's Successor|first=Robert|last=Bajruši|date=17 April 2007|access-date=25 July 2012|archive-date=17 July 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717003612/http://www.nacional.hr/en/clanak/33608/zoran-milanovic-the-rise-of-racans-successor}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070803020940/http://www.javno.com/hr/hrvatska/clanak.php?id=49361 {{in lang|hr}} Javno.com: Biography]

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{{s-bef|before=Željka Antunović
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{{s-ttl|title=Leader of the Social Democratic Party|years=2007–2016}}

{{s-aft|after=Davor Bernardić}}

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{{s-bef|before=Željka Antunović
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{{s-ttl|title=Leader of the Opposition|years=2007–2011}}

{{s-aft|after=Jadranka Kosor}}

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{{s-ttl|title=Prime Minister of Croatia|years=2011–2016}}

{{s-aft|after=Tihomir Orešković}}

{{s-bef|before=Tomislav Karamarko}}

{{s-ttl|title=Leader of the Opposition|years=2016}}

{{s-aft|after=Davor Bernardić}}

{{s-bef|before=Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović}}

{{s-ttl|title=President of Croatia|years=2020–present}}

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{{Heads of state of republics}}

{{SDP President}}

{{Heads of state of the European Union member states}}

{{Party of European Socialists}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Milanovic, Zoran}}

Category:1966 births

Category:Living people

Category:Presidents of Croatia

Category:Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb alumni

Category:Government ministers of Croatia

Category:Politicians from Zagreb

Category:Prime ministers of Croatia

Category:Representatives in the modern Croatian Parliament

Category:Social Democratic Party of Croatia politicians