Mesic looks set for second term as Croatia's president

CROATIA: Mr Stipe Mesic looked set to win a second term as Croatia's president yesterday, and lead the Balkan nation towards European Union entry by 2009.

Poor turnout marred the poll, which pitted the liberal Mr Mesic against deputy prime minister Ms Jadranka Kosor and 11 other minor candidates. Most notable of these was Mr Miroslav Ciro Blazevic, who coached the national football team to third place in the 1998 World Cup.

By mid-afternoon less than 42 per cent of Croatia's 4.4 million voters had cast their ballot, and Mr Mesic had declared himself confident of winning the overall majority needed to avoid a run-off in two weeks' time.

"I think it's logical that this could work out in the first round," said Mr Mesic (70). "The balance of power will not change if we have a run-off." Opinion polls before the vote placed Mr Mesic up to 30 per cent ahead of Ms Kosor (51), whose promise of prosperity through EU membership, stronger rule of law and less corruption, differed little from the promises of the incumbent.

Mr Mesic has proved to be a broadly popular president, both at home and abroad, since succeeding autocratic nationalist Mr Franjo Tudjman in 2000.

"After one autocratic president, this one was just what we needed. He diminished his powers, did not interfere where he should not have interfered, and proved decisive when it was necessary," said legal expert Mr Petar Vukelic.

But despite pledging full co-operation with the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague, Mr Mesic has come under repeated criticism for failing to catch and extradite Gen Ante Gotovina.

He (Gotovina) was indicted in 2001 for alleged atrocities against Serbs during the war that dismembered Yugoslavia a decade ago, but is widely regarded as a hero in Croatia. The EU has warned Zagreb that its failure to seize Gen Gotovina could hamper its bid for membership, but Mr Mesic denies that the fugitive is hiding in his homeland.

Both leading candidates support EU membership and close ties with the United States, despite opposing the US-led invasion of Iraq.

Mr Mesic is backed by the major parties that oppose the ruling Croatian Democratic Union to which Ms Kosor belongs.

"Mesic is the only serious politician and the least bad of all 13 candidates, so I voted for him," said teacher Mr Mirko Pavlic (63) after casting his ballot.

Despite being strong favourite, Mr Mesic insisted that he was taking nothing for granted or planning any wild celebrations.

"No," he said with a smile: "I have to get back to work on Monday."