$ S WASHINGTON, 11 Dec (Hina) - The popularity of the Croatian President Franjo Tudjman has not been diminished despite recent protest rallies in Zagreb, caused by an attempt not to renew the broadcast concession of Radio 101. These
are the results of the latest public opinion survey in Croatia, carried out by the U.S. government agency USIA.
PROTEST
$ S
WASHINGTON, 11 Dec (Hina) - The popularity of the Croatian
President Franjo Tudjman has not been diminished despite recent
protest rallies in Zagreb, caused by an attempt not to renew the
broadcast concession of Radio 101. These are the results of the
latest public opinion survey in Croatia, carried out by the U.S.
government agency USIA. #L#
The reason for this, the USIA report said, lies in a sudden
change of mind of Croatia's authorities concerning the non-renewal
of the Radio 101 broadcast concession and in the public concern
about the illness of the Croatian president.
Eight out of ten Croats (81%) gave positive statements about
their president, which is a somewhat higher number than the one in
the last opinion poll carried out in February, 1996 (76%); 77%
approved of President Tudjman's performance of his duties.
USIA further registers that 53% of the respondents gave 'very
favorable' statements about their president, which is 13% more than
in the February opinion poll.
Partly positive statements were given by 28% of the
respondents, partly negative statements by 10% and very negative
statements by 8% of the respondents.
Although his popularity is somewhat lower in Zagreb (66%),
President Tudjman still enjoys the support of persons under the age
of 30 (73%) and highly educated persons (64%). USIA stresses that
exactly those two groups are usually considered to be a more
critical part of a society.
The opinion poll, carried out after the Zagreb protest over
the Radio 101 case, shows that 88% of people support the
development of private, commercial radio and TV stations. According
to the poll, 72% of the respondents believe that state television
is biased in its reports, which is 8% more than in 1994. Only one
out of four respondents believes that the state radio is objective
in its reports, and a majority (56%) think that private radio
stations are objective in treating all sides.
The opinion poll was carried out between 15 and 17 November on
a sample which included 987 adult persons, over the age of 18.
(hina) rm jn
111934 MET dec 96