BUDISA: I WILL NOT RUN IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS ANY MORE

ZAGREB, Feb 8 (Hina) - "I have lost in the political competition but I do not believe I have lost my political value in relation to Stipe Mesic," presidential candidate Drazen Budisa told reporters after the announcement of unofficial election results early on Tuesday morning. Although he still believes that he is the better presidential candidate, Budisa said he would no longer run in presidential elections. Budisa believes that the result of 43 percent of the vote is rather good, considering that he started his campaign with forecasts of some 22-23 percent. "I would rather say that we still have not cleared the phenomenon of a 'sudden rise' in Mesic's popularity. And speaking of the success of the campaign, it is more Mesic's and his headquarters success and the success of parties supporting him then the failure of my supporters," Budisa said. Asked to comment on the fact that the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) electorate mostly voted for Mesic and not him, Budisa said "they followed Ivic Pasalic's advice" adding immediately he did not know "whose advice they followed." He stressed that Mesic won in those constituencies which were the strongholds of the HDZ and the Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS). He said he still could not explain this 'combination' adding though he would not like his first statement "in the small hours" to be understood as a sign of his bad mood. One will be able to peacefully analyse the electorate which supported both candidates in coming days, he added. Budisa also said the votes of one million citizens who voted for him obliged him to act honourably, as he had done so far. Budisa said he would remain at the head of the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) and be a parliamentary representative. He would not comment on the first statement by the new Croatian President Stipe Mesic, saying only he welcomed what Mesic said. (hina) rml