‘A Great Decision By A Great Man’

Political colleagues have called Racan’s departure from politics as an understandable move, HDZ members do not want to comment.

Despite different speculations, the chief of SDP has definitely said goodbye to political life. Considering that an election year is in question, parliamentary elections are only a few months away, this move has unsettled the political scene.

As Racan’s departure will effect the strongest opposition party in the country, will other parties gain any benefits from his departure, we asked some of the leading politicians in Croatia.

Passions have been stirred with the question, who is a worthy successor to the long time  chief of SDP, is it Zeljka Antunovic, a new face in the party Zoran Milanovic, or maybe the mayor of Zagreb, Milan Bandic…

The president of HNS, Vesna Pusic told us that Racan’s gesture shows that his health is really in a poor state.

- I am sorry that he resigned, there is no doubt that it will leave a mark on SDP – said Pusic. She added that his opposition party has already faced the possibility of Racan’s departure from politics when he announced his temporary withdrawal from his political function.

Pusic: Antunovic as Racan’s successor

SDP should elect a president before the elections at the party convention, as Racan had proposed – said the president of HNS.

As far as Racan’s successor is concerned, Pusic thinks that the main candidate is Zeljka Antunovic, because Zoran Milanovic, according to her, is still the “new person in the party”.

The main political opponent of SDP, HDZ, more precisely the head people of the party in power, did not want to comment on the new situation.

The main secretary of HDZ, Ivan Jarnjak said that it is awkward to comment on Racan’s departure from politics, because he is on a tennis court.

HDZ: No comment

HDZ’s spokesperson, Ratko Macek was more talkative than his party colleague, and said that he can not comment on Racan’s departure because it is “about a personally conditioned resignation”.

Andrija Hebrang gave us a longer comment.

- This is a wise and correct move. With it they will move out of the crisis caused by Ivica Racan’s sickness – explained Hebrang.

He continued that the resignation will solve the dilemmas and disagreements inside the party, and if SDP respects the results of the party convention, there will be internal consolidation.

- Everything is in their hands – said HDZ’s Hebrang.

‘Antunovic will not easily accept anybody else taking the position of president’

HSP wishes Racan all the best, and that he leave this situation as a winner.

- His resignation could cause inner conflict – said Pero Kovacevic in a conversation.

According to his words, the culmination of the conflicts could be caused by SDP’s potential bad result in the upcoming elections. To the question, who do you see as Racan’s successor, Kovacevic answers that the most logical choice would be Zeljka Antunovic.

- Zeljka has ambitions, and will not easily accept anybody else taking the position of president of the party – says the HSP member.

President of the ‘peasants’ of Croatia, Josip Friscic, also describes Racan’s move as a wise decision.

- He probably did not want his sickness to be a topic of speculations, ratings and scores for the upcoming elections – considers HSS’s president.

Friscic: Too little party activity behind Milanovic

He added that the departure will enable the party to start a program and ‘wake up’ the leading structure to prepare for the elections as well as possible.

- It is hard to make an evaluation on who will lead the party now, SDP has strong figures – thinks Friscic when the word is about a new president for SDP.

However, he thinks it will be an interesting race inside the party.

- As far as Zoran Milanovic is concerned as a potential candidate, I think that he is a new face, and too little party activity is backing him – said Friscic. He added that at this moment, Milonovic’s choice for the position of president is an ‘unchecked solution’.

Vesna Skare-Ozbolt, president of DC, agreed with her colleagues.

‘Racan was a brand’

- This is a great decision by a great man – stressed Skare-Ozbolt. For her, Racan was a brand, and without him, SDP remains a brand on its own.

As far as possible problems inside the party are concerned, Skare-Ozbolt considers that it will not come to that.

- There will not be the same mistake as HDZ during the time of Tudman – said the president of DC, and explained that SDP has people which they can count on as Racan’s successors. To the question, who are those possible leaders, Skare-Ozbolt did not want to be precise.

According to the words of Slaven Letica, with Racan’s departure from political life, SDP has solved the problem of anticipation.

- Now the party, as a serious democratic party, should have more candidates for president. So as leaders of SDP, the candidates Zeljka Antunovic, Zoran Milanovic and maybe even Milan Bandic could apply – said Letica. He continued that it is a good thing that SDP has more candidates for the position of president.

Kajin: HDZ will use the situation and will continue with less regards to what SDP are doing.

The president of IDS, Damir Kajin claims that Racan’s resignation will not ‘disturb the waters’ in SDP.

- SDP will have to suppress potential splits if it intends on winning the elections – said Kajin.

He mentioned that HDZ will use the situation, and in their pre-election campaign they will pay less attention to SDP.

- If the opposition is smart, they can remove HDZ from power – said the president of IDS.