ZAGREB, Jan 17 (Hina) - Stipe Mesic started his pre-election campaign relatively unnoticed, however, according to current opinion polls, he is in the lead. His strong lead will be difficult to stop, said "Opposition Four" leaders -
Zlatko Tomcic of the Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS), Ivan Jakovcic of the Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS), Vlado Gotovac of the Liberal Party (LS), and Radimir Cacic of the Croatian People's Party (HNS). This assessment was also supported by Silvije Degen, leader of the "Opposition Four's" associate member - the Action of Social Democrats of Croatia (ASH). Mesic is a person one can rely on, a person with a clear style, always ready for dialogue; he is composed and relaxed and those are the qualities the public expects, Gotovac said. Gotovac recalled that in 1994, Mesic had resigned from his position as the President of the Sabor, which was a sign of his political and moral cour
ZAGREB, Jan 17 (Hina) - Stipe Mesic started his pre-election
campaign relatively unnoticed, however, according to current
opinion polls, he is in the lead. His strong lead will be difficult
to stop, said "Opposition Four" leaders - Zlatko Tomcic of the
Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS), Ivan Jakovcic of the Istrian
Democratic Assembly (IDS), Vlado Gotovac of the Liberal Party (LS),
and Radimir Cacic of the Croatian People's Party (HNS).
This assessment was also supported by Silvije Degen, leader of the
"Opposition Four's" associate member - the Action of Social
Democrats of Croatia (ASH).
Mesic is a person one can rely on, a person with a clear style,
always ready for dialogue; he is composed and relaxed and those are
the qualities the public expects, Gotovac said.
Gotovac recalled that in 1994, Mesic had resigned from his position
as the President of the Sabor, which was a sign of his political and
moral courage and consistency, which the "Opposition Four" wish to
honour.
Cacic, president of the HNS, the party which nominated Mesic
presidential candidate, said the political position of the centre
which Mesic was advocating could gather the voters of both leftist
and rightist orientation and contribute to the stabilisation of the
Opposition, which, Cacic believes, has gone more to the left.
HSS president Zlatko Tomcic expressed satisfaction with the mature
behaviour of the electorate, whereas IDS's Ivan Jakovcic said he
expected Mesic to win by overwhelming majority in Istria, not only
because of IDS's support but also because citizens needed a man who
could contribute to the development of democracy.
(hina) mm rml