President Stjepan Mesić stood for re-election, and the governing HDZ nominated cabinet minister Jadranka Kosor.

[1] However, Jadranka Kosor benefited from the votes coming from the citizens living abroad, which narrowed the president's victory by only a couple of points, but enough to secure a second round.

The greatest surprise of the election was the independent candidate Boris Mikšić, a Croatian businessman and entrepreneur living in the United States.

On the night of the election, the first exit polls indicated president Mesić might secure a second term without the need of a runoff, while Kosor and Mikšić were shown battling for second place.

As votes from the citizens living abroad were tallied, Kosor overtook Mikšić, placing second and qualifying for the second round.