ZAGREB, June 17 (Xinhua) -- Former Croatian Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic declared his presidential bid here on Monday.
At a press conference in Zagreb, he said that he wants to be the president of "a modern and progressive Croatia." He expressed gratitude to the presidency of the largest opposition party, Social Democratic Party (SDP), which unanimously supported him as a candidate.
"I see myself as a candidate and leader of a modern-looking Croatia, a country that is fearless, progressive and not afraid of those who are different, a country that doesn't encircle itself in barbed wire. I will fight for such a country. You can lose, but you cannot give up," Milanovic said at the press conference.
Zoran Milanovic, a 52-year-old lawyer, was prime minister from December 2011 until January 2016. He stepped down as SDP chairman in November 2016, and then withdrew from public life to run a private company. On Monday he said that he is looking for much broader support than just from the SDP.
"If I could be a president with a character, Croatia would be a state with an attitude," Milanovic said. His electoral slogan is "The president with a character".
SDP leader Davor Bernardic said on Monday that the party expects him to win upcoming elections and return dignity of the presidential function.
The upcoming presidential elections will take place at the end of the year. According to the latest polls, current President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic is a favorite to win another term, while Milanovic is the most significant challenger.
Grabar-Kitarovic has not yet confirmed whether she will seek another five-year term.
