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Croatians will likely face runoff vote
Source: Agencies |
December 28, 2009, Monday
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CROATIANS voted for a new president yesterday in an election marked by allegations of corruption as the country tries to fight graft and smooth its entry into the European Union.
Twelve candidates were running to replace popular President Stipe Mesic, who helped discourage the nationalism promoted by his predecessor in the 1990s and encouraged a shift to the West, including joining NATO this year and preparing the former Yugoslav republic for membership in the EU.
The campaign has focused on the two issues that most bother Croatians: economic recovery and widespread corruption. Some candidates have themselves faced allegations of corruption.
The leading candidates are pro-Western and US-friendly and will likely support efforts to win entry into the EU, possibly in 2011-2012. None of the candidates is expected to win a clear majority, and a runoff on January 10 is likely.
Left-leaning opposition Social Democrat Ivo Josipovic appears to be ahead, with 30 percent support in polls. He is followed by the mayor of Zagreb, Milan Bandic, a populist independent who is popular despite allegations of political cronyism, and the head of the country's Chamber of Commerce, Nadan Vidosevic, a conservative independent whose personal wealth has prompted suspicion from critics. Both are polling at about 15 percent.
Conservative ruling party member Andrija Hebrang is fourth in the polls.
Andrea Majer-Livakovic, 27, a professor of English, said it's imperative now that the country gets an honest politician. "Otherwise, I'll move out of this country."
The president's power is largely ceremonial and the Cabinet and parliament are the main decision-makers. But the president commands the army and has strong influence on foreign policy.
About 4.4 million people - including about 400,000 Croats living abroad - are eligible to vote.
The initial turnout was low, at about 11 percent.
The election will give Croatia its third president since it declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991.
Twelve candidates were running to replace popular President Stipe Mesic, who helped discourage the nationalism promoted by his predecessor in the 1990s and encouraged a shift to the West, including joining NATO this year and preparing the former Yugoslav republic for membership in the EU.
The campaign has focused on the two issues that most bother Croatians: economic recovery and widespread corruption. Some candidates have themselves faced allegations of corruption.
The leading candidates are pro-Western and US-friendly and will likely support efforts to win entry into the EU, possibly in 2011-2012. None of the candidates is expected to win a clear majority, and a runoff on January 10 is likely.
Left-leaning opposition Social Democrat Ivo Josipovic appears to be ahead, with 30 percent support in polls. He is followed by the mayor of Zagreb, Milan Bandic, a populist independent who is popular despite allegations of political cronyism, and the head of the country's Chamber of Commerce, Nadan Vidosevic, a conservative independent whose personal wealth has prompted suspicion from critics. Both are polling at about 15 percent.
Conservative ruling party member Andrija Hebrang is fourth in the polls.
Andrea Majer-Livakovic, 27, a professor of English, said it's imperative now that the country gets an honest politician. "Otherwise, I'll move out of this country."
The president's power is largely ceremonial and the Cabinet and parliament are the main decision-makers. But the president commands the army and has strong influence on foreign policy.
About 4.4 million people - including about 400,000 Croats living abroad - are eligible to vote.
The initial turnout was low, at about 11 percent.
The election will give Croatia its third president since it declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991.
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