SARAJEVO/LJUBLJANA, Nov 24 (Hina) - The media in Bosnia-Herzegovina dedicated a great deal of attention to Croatia's parliamentary elections, emphasising that the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) scored a great success.
SARAJEVO/LJUBLJANA, Nov 24 (Hina) - The media in Bosnia-
Herzegovina dedicated a great deal of attention to Croatia's
parliamentary elections, emphasising that the Croatian Democratic
Union (HDZ) scored a great success. #L#
"The HDZ Is Convincingly Leading", the high-circulation Dnevni
Avaz daily said on its front page.
Another Sarajevo-based daily, 'Oslobodjenje', says Croatia might
wait until President Stjepan Mesic appointed the new premier-
designate.
The most influential electronic media gave mainly neutral comments
on the ballot for the Sabor, relaying the latest figures released by
the State Electoral Commission.
The results of the Croatian elections also hit the headlines of the
Slovene press.
According to journalists' comments, the HDZ is most likely to form a
new government in Zagreb.
The Delo daily wrote about "a great victory of the right" at the
elections. Its editorial, focusing on the ballot for the Sabor, is
headlined "A Risky Swing to the Right". The Delo believes that the
return of the HDZ to power and Ivo Sanader as the future prime
minister would be a great challenge to Croatia's future.
Journalist Petar Zerjavic wrote that the government led by (SDP)
Ivica Racan can be criticised for many things, "but it has made a
leap forward in comparison to the times of Franjo Tudjman".
With regard to Croatian-Slovene relations, Delo criticises Racan
for 'vacillation' and refusal of the agreement he previously
reached on the joint border. However, the daily forecasts that it
would not be good (for bilateral relations) if the 'right-wing
politician with the iron fist' applying a firm policy in the
relations with neighbours was in power.
'Dnevnik', another daily from Ljubljana comments on the rise in the
HDZ's popularity and the fall of the SDP. The paper added that SDP's
partner in the government, the Croatian Peasant Party (HSS) won
fewer seats than at the last elections.
"Croatia has opted for change. But it is hard to say what kind of
change would be as the programme of the HDZ was not much different
from other (parties') programmes, and great promises will soon face
the wall of reality," columnist Zoran Senkovic said.
The daily added that Slovenia should not expect anything special
from the new authorities, because of the positions the HDZ showed
while it was in the opposition".
The commentary also reads that one should not forget that "Slovenia
and Croatia solved some problems while the HDZ was in power,
although more difficult problems were postponed for some better
times."
(hina) ms