Croatia set for presidential run-off

A LAW professor with a musical bent will take on the maverick mayor of Zagreb in Croatia’s presidential run-off tomorrow as they seek to lead the country into the EU and capitalise on the travails of the ruling HDZ party.

Surveys place legal expert and composer Ivo Josipovic ahead of Milan Bandic, the populist leader of Croatia’s capital, who is widely despised by the nation’s liberal elite but draws support from staunchly Catholic groups, nationalists and many Croats in Bosnia, where he was born.

Mr Josipovic won the first round of the ballot with 32.4 per cent of votes against 14.8 per cent for Mr Bandic, with the HDZ’s candidate trailing home third and out of the run-off due to public discontent with the party, its handling of the economic crisis and various corruption scandals.

Discontent within the rift-riddled HDZ burst into the open after the election defeat, when former party leader Ivo Sanader announced he was returning to politics some six months after unexpectedly resigning as prime minister.

He was expelled from the HDZ this week for what local media called his attempted “party coup” and his failure while in power to tackle corruption.

Mr Josipovic (52) represents the main opposition party, the Social Democrats, but has relatively little political experience. In a country plagued by sleaze and scandal, however, that is seen by many Croats as a distinct advantage.

“I call all voters to cast ballots for justice, a better and more just Croatia,” said Mr Josipovic after his first-round victory. He has also said he stands for “reforms, a fight against corruption and the return of integrity into politics”.

Mr Bandic (54) is an independent beloved by some Croats for his “can-do” attitude and flirtations with nationalism. He is also criticised for perceived crassness and alleged cronyism and corruption, although the many rumours about him have never led to formal charges. A spokesman for the country’s anti-corruption police said yesterday that the unit was “working on several cases involving Milan Bandic”.

He has warned that victory for Mr Josipovic would equate to a “return to communism” and has pledged to “work like a horse” to improve his country and guide it into the EU.

Both candidates intend to lead Croatia into the bloc by 2012, but Mr Josipovic is seen as the man more likely to support the strongly pro-Brussels line and anti-corruption drive of Mr Sanader’s replacement as HDZ leader and prime minister, former radio show host Jadranka Kosor.