Democracy News

Ivo Josipovic Elected As New Croatian President
January 13, 2010
By: Randi Zung | Printer Friendly

Ivo Josipovic of the Social Democratic Party of Croatia (SDP) was declared the new president on January 10, winning 60.3% of the vote in a second round run-off against Milan Bandic.  After official results were released, Josipovic, a law professor, classical music composer, and a deputy in the Croatian parliament, stated that his win was a victory for “all honest people regardless of their voting preferences,” BBC News reports.  Josipovic also pledged to fight corruption as well as help the country gain membership in the European Union (EU). 

Bandic, mayor of the capital city of Zagreb, was plagued by allegations of corruption during the campaign.  Bandic was originally affiliated with SDP but was later expelled after he decided to run for president against the party’s wishes.  According to BBC Balkans correspondent Mark Lowen, the Croatian citizenry was largely uninterested in the election citing a low voter turn out of 50.3%. 

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports that Daan Everts, the head of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's (OSCE) Mission in Croatia, cited the country’s ability to hold a free and fair election as a symbol of having “passed another democratic standard.”  Damir Grubisa, a professor of European affairs at Zagreb University, stated that if Bandic had won, it could have jeopardized Croatia’s chances at gaining EU membership

According to an article by Reuters, in addition to trying to attain EU membership, Josipovic’s government will also have to devise a strategy in order to address the country’s serious economic situation.  Josipovic will be the country’s third president since gaining independence from Yugoslavia in 1991.  Current president Stjepan Mesic will step down on February 10 after holding office for consecutive five-year terms and will still be an influential figure in foreign policy, defense, and intelligence.  Josipovic will be inaugurated on February 18. 

Sources:
BBC News - Social Democrat Ivo Josipovic elected Croatia president
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8450380.stm

RFE/RL - Josipovic's Victory Seen As Helping Croatia's EU Bid
http://www.rferl.org/content/Josipovics_Victory_Seen_As_Helping_Croatias_EU_Bid/1926681.html

Reuters - Jurist Josipovic wins Croatia presidential election
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6092482010011