CORATIA: Croatia prepares for tightly contested parliamentary elections

Croatians go to the polls this weekend in an election that is expected to be closely fought by the ruling conservative Croatian Democratic Union and the Opposition Social Democrats. Croatians are preparing for a tightly contested parliamentary election on Sunday (November 25) with both main parties pledging to take the former Yugoslav republic into the European Union by the end of their four-year mandate. Neither Prime Minister Ivo Sanader's conservative Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) nor the resurgent Social Democrats (SDP) are likely to be able to form a government on their own and lengthy coalition talks are possible. The centre-right HDZ shed its former nationalist image in 2000 when Ivo Sanader took over, purging the party of hardliners and adopting a pro-Western agenda. He won the 2003 election and moved the country closer to European Union and NATO membership, also pushing a liberal, anti-state economic agenda. Recent figures have shows the party polling at around 30 percent. "Basically, looking at foreign policy, there is no real difference," said political analyst Zeljko Trkanjec on Thursday (November 22). "Both sides are keen to bring Croatia closer to the European Union and NATO and to become members. But basically, if you're looking on the internal policy, again, there is still not much difference. Social Democrats are always trying to be closer to parts of society which are vulnerable. But on the other side, the HDZ is open more to some questions about national identity. But if we are looking on a broad level, it is basically the same who will win. Croatia will go in the same pattern, in the same pace like it was four years ago and eight years ago, from the beginning of 2000," he added. Opinion polls give a slight edge to the SDP and its new leader, 41-year old Zoran Milanovic, who appeals to younger, urban voters and favours a more active state role and redistribution of wealth. The SDP is pro-EU but, unlike HDZ, wants emphasis on reforms and quality of accession talks rather than speed, to win more concessions from Brussels before joining. It wants NATO membership but only after a referendum. Its economic agenda is more populist, promising more state involvement and tax cuts. Ordinary Croats want less corruption and a better living standards, although most want to keep broad social benefits. After the independence war and economic hardship of the 1990s, Croatian cities shine with new gloss and its pristine Adriatic coast has become a hotspot for global celebrities. But an urban consumer boom, largely based on bank loans, has its flip side in the countryside, where there is growing poverty, a lack of investment and an ageing population. Neither party has put forward a detailed economic strategy, or plans to tackle a big trade deficit or foreign debt. Instead they offered vague promises of higher economic growth, prosperity and zero tolerance for corruption.

ITN Source | November 24, 2007

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