ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — Croatian President Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic has formally announced she will run for a second term during a presidential election expected to be held by the end of the year.

Grabar Kitarovic on Wednesday said she has backing from the ruling Croatian Democratic Union party to seek re-election.

The conservative incumbent's opponents include former left-wing Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic and Miroslav Skoro, a popular singer who joined the race to govern the European Union's newest member.

Early surveys have indicated that none of the candidates will win more than half of the votes needed for an outright victory and a runoff is likely. The date of the election is yet to be set.

Croatia joined the EU in 2013.