HNS Head Wants Presidential Seat? - Current Events - Croatia

Zagreb branch of the HNS party cannot decide who will be their running candidate for the Zagreb mayor post.

ZAGREB, CROATIA – Zagreb branch of the Croatian People`s Party (HNS) cannot seem to decide whom to single out as the candidate for the Zagreb mayor post. Although it has been assumed for months that party president Radimir Cacic will compete with current Zagreb Mayor Milan Bandic, the rumour is now that his role will be taken over by Alenka Kosisa Cicin Sain, active oppositional representative in the City Assembly.

However, Cacic does not wish to confirm dropping the mayor race. According to him, all everything is still open.

Cacic stands a better chance as presidential candidate

No decision
HNS member Alenka Kosisa Cicin Sain, as the most attractive oppositional representative in the City Assembly, is the most realistic choice for the mayor post. Cacic, as a high-profile politician stands a better chance at the elections for country president. Furthermore, there is a fresh HNS member Dragan Kovacevic, who might also “jump in” as Bandic`s counter-candidate.

- The candidacy decision has still not been made. The same is with dropping it. I am likely to go for the Assembly, because there are only two sides there. One is the Social Democratic Party (SDP), i.e. Milan Bandic and his partners, from Tatjana Holjevac, Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), Croatian Peasants` Party (HSS), HB and the Croatian Pensioners` Party (HSU), while the HNS is on the other side. The Assembly is the key factor – Cacic told Javno news site, not hiding him ambitions for the presidential elections.

This is why Radimir Cacic might give up on Zagreb and hand it over to Kosisa Cicin Sain. According to certain polls, Cacic has a got shot at the presidential election, while running for Zagreb mayor might do him more harm than good.

- The HNS has still not made a decision on the candidate for Zagreb mayor. It is not correct that Mr. Cacic has given up and that I will be running. These are rumours started by certain media and our party members. Everything is still open, we also have Mrs. Palikovic Gruden, Mr. Rados and myself – Alenka Kosisa Cicin Sain pointed out.

Although nobody has still announced their candidacy, if the local elections are carried out 60 days before the third Sunday in May, when they are being held, Cacic might be forced to give up on Zagreb, because he did not submit his address of residence in time. However, Alenka Kosisa Cicin Sain sees no point in this, seeing how everything is still open, she reiterated.