ZAGREB, Feb 9 (Hina) - According to an opinion survey conducted by the "Promocija plus" agency, the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) enjoys greater support of the electorate in February than it did at last November's parliamentary
elections. Stjepan Mesic is viewed as the most positive politician and the political event of the month in January was the announced re-introduction of maternity allowances.
ZAGREB, Feb 9 (Hina) - According to an opinion survey conducted by the
"Promocija plus" agency, the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) enjoys
greater support of the electorate in February than it did at last
November's parliamentary elections. Stjepan Mesic is viewed as the
most positive politician and the political event of the month in
January was the announced re-introduction of maternity allowances.#L#
According to the survey, which was conducted in the first five days of
February and included 1,225 respondents from around the country, the
HDZ is supported by 31.9 percent of respondents.
It is followed by the Social Democrats (SDP), which enjoys the support
of 18.9 percent of respondents, the Croatian People's Party (HNS) with
10.2 percent, the Croatian Party of Rights (HSP) with seven percent,
the Croatian Pensioners' Party (HSU) with 4.4 percent and the Croatian
Peasants' Party (HSS) with 4.2 percent of supporters.
Liberal parties are lagging behind significantly, with the Social
Liberals (HSLS) enjoying the support of 1.5 percent of respondents,
the Liberal Party (LS) of 0.7, Libra of 0.6, and the Democratic Centre
(DC) of one percent of respondents.
Twenty-seven percent of respondents view President Stjepan Mesic as
the most positive politician. Mesic is followed by Prime Minister Ivo
Sanader with 24.9-percent support. Former prime minister Ivica Racan
received the support of 10.5 percent of respondents.
The list of top ten most positive politicians also includes HNS
leaders Vesna Pusic and Radimir Cacic, Anto Djapic and Tonci Tadic of
the HSP, and former parliament president and HSS leader Zlatko Tomcic,
who is placed tenth.
The SDP leader and former prime minister, Ivica Racan, is viewed as
the most negative politician by 14.2 percent of respondents. Racan is
followed by Vladimir Seks of the HDZ with 13.9 percent and Andrija
Hebrang with 11.5 percent of the vote, the HSP's Anto Djapic (7.9%),
Prime Minister Ivo Sanader and HNS leader Vesna Pusic (6%), Ivic
Pasalic of the Croatian Bloc (5.25%), former HSLS leader Drazen Budisa
(4.5%) and the SDP's Slavko Linic (4.2%).
The political event of the month in January was the announced
restoration of maternity allowances to the level in 2000.
The "Promocija plus" agency, which has been present on the Croatian
market for more than a decade, has announced that it will continue to
conduct monthly surveys on political preferences and forward its
findings to the media.
(Hina) rml sb