Croatia - A New European Star?

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Croatia - A New European Star?

Saron Lease on new Croatian President, Ivo Josipovic, as he promises a new European Era for Croatia...

 

With the battle against corruption at the top of the agenda for EU entry for Croatia, the election of a self proclaimed anti-corruptionist could pave the way for a new era in Croatia. Whether Croats are hugely supportive of EU entry for their country, or just want an end to the endemic corruption that has pervaded the country since it's democratisation, the people have made themselves heard. Opposition Social Democrat, Ivo Josipovic won Croatia's presidential election with a large lead (60% of the vote) on Monday after promising to crack down on corruption. One of the main newspapers, Jutarnji List daily, said Josipovic's victory showed that Croatians wanted a new type of politician.

 

Indeed, he has made some big statements... "I want a European Croatia, a Croatia that will be one of the shining stars in the European sky," the 52-year-old Josipovic said. He continued that this would be "not only through EU membership but by values that we stand for - democracy, freedom, human rights, rule of law, minority rights (and) religious freedom," he said.

 

EU entry and stopping corruption go hand in hand as eliminating corruption is amoung the stipulations for EU entry, which Zagreb is aiming for by 2012. Judiciary reform is also a pre-condition and Josipovic based his campaign upon these issues. With several investigations currently underway into state run corruption and scandals in which many officials have already been detained, it is clear that these issues are pressing and not hard to see why Croatians feel strongly about them. It seems that more than just an election winner, Josipovic wants the anti-corruption cause to be his legacy. Indeed, according to the nations press on Monday, Josipovic has set himself up to take Croatia into a new phase - to leave the Balkan wars behind it and lead it towards peaceful, civilised EU integration (Novi List daily paper).

 

It seems that the general consensus is that Josipovic, who will become the 3rd president since Croatias independance, is capable of bringing about such change. Political analyst, Zarko Puhovski, told AFP that Josipovic has an untarnished political career and was up to the task. He said "he will be able to get along with leaders of the countries in the region and the EU, and represent Croatia's interests in a competent way,". A socialist Josipovic will however have to work alongside a conservative government led by Jadranska Kosor. While Kosor appears to have the same aim in her sights and has worked hard to secure Slovenias support in Croatias EU bid, the day to day politics could cause friction. The upshot remains to be seen. But this should be a fascinating time politically as he attempts to move the country forward another huge notch from it's current post war state to transform this former Yugoslav state into a European player. The popular out-going president Stipe Mesic gave Josipovic a great vote of confidence saying that a "democratic, European Croatia, and values of Europe to which we are aspiring, have won". Mesic himself worked to transform Croatia into a parliamentary democracy after Croatias independance from communist Yugoslavia. Previous to Mesic, Tudjman led the country through the 1991-95 war. So these are big leaps indeed for Croatia - can it win through from war to become a star of Europe? Watch this space...

 

The views expressed are those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Guide2Croatia.
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