Croatia's constitutional court has said it will consider President Zoran Milanovic's candidacy for prime minister in the country's upcoming elections after he was criticized for not resigning earlier.
Milanovic, who already served as prime minister from 2011 to 2016, announced he would run as the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate in Zagreb shortly after setting the April 17 election date.
But the 57-year-old man said he would not resign from his post as president of the NATO and EU member state just yet.
His decision not to step down was criticized by Prime Minister Andrej Plenković.
"This is in complete contradiction to what, according to our constitution, the president of the republic should be," said conservative leader Plenkovic, who is seeking a third term.
"At a time when elections are being held in Russia, is it perhaps a matter of taking Croatia out of the Western community, out of the EU, out of NATO, out of the partnership with the United States and into the arms of Russia?" Plenkovic added at a political rally in the eastern city of Osijek.
Croatia's Constitutional Court said it would consider Milanovic's candidacy.
SDP leader Peja Gerbin said he saw no "formal or legal obstacle" and called on the court to give its opinion.
The move came a year before Milanovic's presidential term ends in February 2025.
For his part, he said that he "promises a decisive and clean government".
"There are times ... when one has to leave one's comfort zone," he said.
Thousands of people demonstrated during an anti-government rally in the capital Zagreb last month, where protesters called for immediate elections and accused government officials of corruption.
Presidential elections are due to be held in Croatia later this year, and there will also be elections for the European Parliament in June. /BGNES
