Investigation into Croatian HDZ to expand to leadership of HDZ BiH

On the occasion of the presidential elections in the Republic of Croatia, to be held on December 28, 2014, the International Institute for Middle Eastern and Balkan Studies (IFIMES) from Ljubljana published an analysis of current pre-election events. From the extensive analysis "Presidential Elections in Croatia 2014: Josipović is the Favorite", we highlight the most interesting parts, reports the BH News Agency Patria.

The current president, Ivo Josipović, took office in February 2010. During his term, he tried to remain non-partisan. According to analysts, he did not make strategic mistakes. Josipović, like other Croatian officials, is criticized for not fully utilizing the opportunities of Croatia's membership in NATO and the EU and for neglecting the country's economic recovery. Josipović has significantly contributed to regional stability and Croatia's international reputation.

Two political parties represent the extremes of the Croatian political scene. One is Tomislav Karamarko's Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), which bases its ideology on anti-communism, the process of independence, and the so-called Serbian threat in Croatia. The HDZ is clearly trying to attribute the results of independence solely to itself, ignoring the fact that it is a consequence of the Croatian people's desire for independence and, above all, historical international circumstances and context – the fall of the Berlin Wall. The HDZ must decriminalize itself and free itself from the idealization of Franjo Tuđman. Although Croatia is a sovereign and independent state, the HDZ is still "looking" for enemies in Serbs and Yugoslavs. The biggest burden for candidate Kolinda Grabar Kitarović (HDZ) is her participation in Ivo Sanader's government, in which seven ministers, including Prime Minister Sanader, were indicted for criminal offenses.

The other party representing the Croatian political extreme is Zoran Milanović's Social Democratic Party of Croatia (SDP), the successor to the former League of Communists of Croatia. The party is in crisis because, during the transition period, it failed to transform into a modern left-wing political party, and it is still burdened by the remnants of the past. Croatia and the countries of the region need strong social democratic parties, but not like the current SDP of Croatia.

EXPANSION OF INVESTIGATION

Organized crime and corruption are still the cancer of Croatian society, and the media are partially free.

Croatian governments, from independence to the present day, have failed to find adequate economic solutions to accumulated economic problems, including the current government of Zoran Milanović (SDP). The government of Prime Minister Ivo Sanader (HDZ) probably represents the most corrupt government. Investigations against the Croatian HDZ will have to be extended to the HDZ BiH, as there are founded suspicions of embezzlement of millions of Croatian taxpayers' kuna, which were channeled through HDZ BiH and parts of its leadership.

SHORT CAMPAIGN

In addition to the short campaign, there is very little clearly articulated political content. The presidential elections are being held during the Christmas and New Year holidays, which generally favors the political right and the HDZ, as a large number of the Croatian diaspora return to their homeland during this period, thus having the opportunity to participate in the elections. Relevant surveys show that the Croatian diaspora is traditionally inclined towards the HDZ, as are Croats from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Analysts warn that Croatia needs a president who is not ideologically burdened by the left or right extremes, but a president who will act as a unifier and restore the lost trust of citizens in politics and the institutions of the Croatian state. One of the issues is the relationship with the Croatian people in BiH and their equality in the process of integrating Bosnia and Herzegovina into the EU. The undisputed favorite in the presidential elections is the current president, Ivo Josipović.