Main Croatian Parties Lack Presidential Candidates

The third candidate still cannot enter the political arena, because they would waste their chances by running too early, Gjenero says.

ZAGREB, CROATIA - Although none of Croatian political parties have announced their candidate for the presidential elections, they have become a frequent topic on the Croatian political scene. Current Croatian President Stjepan Mesic recently proposed some candidates, while guests of the Croatian Television show “Otvoreno” discussed some possible names.

Professor at the Faculty of Political Sciences in Zagreb Bozo Skoko said that none of the parties have so far announced their candidate because they were “testing the water” at the moment. They will first see how the local elections will go, and they start campaigning.

Political analyst Davor Gjenero said they should not rush with announcement, mentioning the case of Stjepan Mesic, whom he did not count as a serious candidate, and he has attained an electorate in the past several weeks.

- This might happen again. Until two most powerful parties do not announce their serious candidates, the possible third candidate must not enter the political arena, because they would waste their chances by running too early – Gjenero said, adding that the two most powerful parties were in presidential blockade.

- The question is if [Croatian Prime Minister Ivo] Sanader would give up running the party and some of the obligations he has as the prime minister in the Europeisation of Croatia. For [Social Democratic Party – SDP – president Zoran] Milanovic, who is at the start of his political career, this would mean renouncing the party, thus it could be the case that none of them run. Still, Sanader might run if he ends negotiations with the EU and if he is successful upon facing the financial crisis – Gjenero believes.

Mesic not serious, but entertains the people

Reporter of the Novi list paper Branko Mijic believes that Mesic was not being serious when he was “dishing out names”, stating Zlatko Komadina as a possible candidate one day, and Tomislav Dragicevic the next.

- The president will surely not affect the citizens. The people elected Mesic because he entertains them, and not because he is a capable politician who might lead the country. He can harm the candidates more that he can be of any good – Milan Ivkosic said, adding that Nadan Vidosevic of the Croatian Economy Chamber was out of the question, because he has had ten scandals worth millions of kuna.

Skoko warned that Croatian citizens want a charismatic person to lead Croatia, like Havel in the Czech Republic, who was named the country`s best export product.

- A candidate must have vision and know how to address the media. Croatia does not have enough charismatic candidates, after all – Bozo Skoko believes.

Virtuous people, humanists, not economists

Ivica Sola, columnist of the Glas Slavonije newspaper, notices that there are no humanists, sociologists or philosopher among the candidates.

- We need a virtuous man, moral integrity. When we talk of economists, we need a president who is virtuous, sensible. I hope the next president would speak foreign languages and not tell jokes – Sola said.

- Brussels must be as comfortable as Zagreb for the future president. This criteria is fulfilled by: Sanader, [Croatian People`s Party – HNS –  member Vesna] Pusic, [Social Democratic Party member Neven] Mimica, [independent MP Ivo] Josipovic, Nadan Vidosevic – Gjenero counted.

Ivkosic agreed with him, who believes the president does not even have to be virtuous, but has to be the opposite of what has been going on for the past ten years, like humiliation in Brussels, the Adriatic coast being sold – a president should prevent this, must be a correcting factor of the executive power.

- Miroslav Tudjman is my personal favourite. He will surely run. He is educated, he would cherish patriotism – Ivkosic pointed out.

Branko Mijic pointed out that Croatia wants to elect an economist during the recession, which does not make sense.

- He cannot turn Croatia into a company, a plc, which will do business successfully – Mijic said.

Croatia dropped its pants

- Croatia approached the EU because it dropped its pants down in Europe to anyone who wanted it to. It sold all its banks, the coast – Ivkosic pointed out his dissatisfaction.

When Gjenero wanted to defend Croatia, stating it was a well-organised country, and state the advantages of the European Union, Ivkosic interrupted him, after which Gjenero left the show.

When asked if Croatia was ready for a female president, Sola replied:

- Again, you are dealing with design, gender is not the issue, skin colour… design produces false prophets as well. It can be a woman, but let it not be a false prophet, who has answers to all the questions, who knows everything. We don`t need someone who will make wise cracks. We need a serious man. They can be a woman, they can be a Serb -