HDZ MOST POPULAR PARTY, SDP'S POPULARITY GROWING, HSS' FALLING

ZAGREB, March 8 (Hina) - The ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) is the most popular party enjoying the support of 32.9 percent of 1,300 people polled by the Promocija Plus agency in the first five days of March, which is one percent more than in February.#L# The Social Democrats (SDP) -- the strongest opposition party -- is second on the popularity list, enjoying the support of 21.6 percent, up from 18.9 percent in February. The Croatian People's Party (HNS) is third with 8.5 percent, down some two percent. The public opinion poll shows that the Croatian Peasant Party's (HSS) support continues to fall. In March it was 3.3 percent, down from February's 4.2 percent. The Croatian Party of Rights (HSP) is the most popular with 6.5 percent of those polled, and the Croatian Pensioners' Party (HSU) with 3.8 percent, down from 4.4 percent in February. All liberal parties lag behind, the Social Liberals (HSLS) with 1.5 percent, the Liberal Party and Libra with 0.5 percent each, and the Democratic Centre with 0.6 percent. The policy of the Ivo Sanader Cabinet is fully or mostly supported by about 70 percent of those polled. President Stjepan Mesic continues to be perceived as the most positive politician in the country, who was voted by 31.4 percent of respondents as most popular, up from 27 percent a month ago. Prime Minister Sanader is close behind with 30.7 percent, up from February's 24.9 percent. Former PM Ivica Racan is third, most popular with nine percent of those polled, a slight decline from the 10.5 percent support in February. The most unpopular politician, according to 16.5 percent of respondents, is Health and Social Welfare Minister Andrija Hebrang. He is followed by Parliament President Vladimir Seks, most unpopular with 15.3 percent and Racan with 15.2 percent of those polled. (Hina) ha sb