ZAGREB, July 2 (Hina) - An opinion poll conducted by the International Republican Institute (IRI) and the PULS agency shows that if parliamentary elections were to be held in Croatia today, 23% of the electorate would vote for the
Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), 16% for the Social Democrats (SDP), and nine percent for the Croatian Peasant Party (HSS) and the Croatian People's Party (HNS) each.
ZAGREB, July 2 (Hina) - An opinion poll conducted by the
International Republican Institute (IRI) and the PULS agency shows
that if parliamentary elections were to be held in Croatia today,
23% of the electorate would vote for the Croatian Democratic Union
(HDZ), 16% for the Social Democrats (SDP), and nine percent for the
Croatian Peasant Party (HSS) and the Croatian People's Party (HNS)
each. #L#
The Croatian Party of Rights (HSP) would win five percent of the
vote, the Social Liberals (HSLS) and the Democratic Centre would
win four percent each, the Istrian Democratic Assembly and the
Croatian Bloc two percent each, and the Liberal Party (LS) and Libra
one percent each. Twenty-two percent of voters are undecided.
The poll, conducted from 2 to 20 June this year, included 2,000
respondents.
The interest in taking part in the next parliamentary ballot is
slightly lower than it was in 2000, when some 90 percent of the
electorate said they would go to the polls. According to the latest
poll, 77% of the electorate will definitely or probably go to the
polls, while 23% will not go to the polls or are still undecided.
IRI estimates that the number of voters to take part in the next
elections will be slightly lower than in 2000.
Most of those who will not vote in the elections say the reason for
their decision is disappointment in politicians (37%).
The polls shows that an average 57% of citizens believe that the
situation in Croatia is developing in the wrong direction, 31%
believe it is going in the right direction, while 12% cannot say if
the situation is good or bad.
These assessments depend on party affiliation, so 63% of SDP
supporters believe the situation is good, while 73% of HDZ
supporters consider it unfavourable.
The polls shows that the general level of optimism among citizens
has raised compared to the previous poll. All voters are more
optimistic, particularly the supporters of the DC, HDZ and the
HSS.
The most optimistic citizens are those living in Istria, Primorje,
the Zagreb area and Dalmatia, while the most pessimistic ones are
those in Slavonia.
Assessing their living standards, 44% of citizens say they live
worse than in 2000, 38% say their living standards have not changed,
and 17% believe their living standards have improved.
The most popular politician is President Stjepan Mesic, who was
judged favourably by 69% of respondents, while 23% have a negative
opinion about him. Mesic is followed by Mate Granic (61%), Zlatko
Tomcic (59%), Ivica Racan (50%) and Vesna Pusic (42%).
The most unpopular politician is Ivic Pasalic, judged negatively by
69% of respondents. He is followed by Drazen Budisa (53%), Miroslav
Tudjman (52%), Ivo Sanader and Anto Djapic (48% each), and Vesna
Pusic (45%).
As much as 48 percent of respondents have not heard about LS
president Ivo Banac.
Thirty-nine percent of respondents believe Radimir Cacic is the
most successful minister. He is followed by Tonino Picula (23%) and
Pave Zupan Ruskovic (15%).
Andro Vlahusic is considered the most unsuccessful minister (19%).
He is followed by Vladimir Strugar (16%) and Bozidar Pankretic
(14%).
(hina) rml