The 2019 Croatian presidential election is set on December 22, 2019 with eleven candidates competing for the highest government post according to the Croation State Election Commission (DIP) last Thursday,  December 5.

Twelve candidates filed for the post but one of those who applied, Slobodan Midžić, was disqualified after submitting a petition with only one signature. According to the country’s presidential election guidelines, a potential candidate must gather at least 10,000 signatures from eligible voters before his/her name will be printed on the ballot.

The candidates who were able to meet the 10,000 signature requirement are as follows:

Candidate	Party affiliation	Number of Signatures Garnered
Nedjeljko Babić	Croatian Party of all Chakavians, Kajkavians and Shtokavians	14,000
Anto Đapić	Democratic Alliance for National Renewal	13,000
Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović	Independent	231,000
Milan Bandić (also known as Dario Juričan)	Independent	13,000
Dejan Kovač	Croatian Social Liberal Party	16,000
Zoran Milanović	Social Democratic Party	78,000
Dalija Orešković	Independent	11,000
Katarina Peović	Workers’ Front	14,000
Ivan Pernar	Party of Ivan Pernar	15,000
Miroslav Škoro	Independent	70,000

The highest number of signatures was garnered by incumbent president Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović with 231,000. The reelectionist president is also expected to win the first round for garnering  28.6 per cent in the latest opinion polls. She, however, will be facing Zoran Milanovic who got 24.3 per cent.

Should the top vote-getter in December 22 fails to generate a majority vote, a round-up election will be held on January 5, 2020.