SOS – Same Old Situation for Croat political scene

After a relatively calm 2007, when the parties with the Croat prefix were showing signs they could agree on a single platform regarding the constitutional changes and status of the Croat people in BiH, 2008 again showed just how disunited the Croat political scene really is. Namely, after the major Croat parties signed the Kresevo Declaration, which among other issues says the current, two-entity organization of BiH is untenable, there was a glimpse of hope (for the Croats at least) the parties will be united in the fight for much desired equality of the Croats and their political representatives who often complain of being outvoted especially at the FBiH level. Local election in October made sure the unity was going south as the main parties battled to impose their dominance within the Croat political corps. With that, all dreams of the Croat unity seem to be gone.

There is no doubt that Dragan Covic’s HDZ BiH emerged victorious following their poor showing in the general election in 2006 when Covic’s fiercest opponent, Bozo Ljubic-led HDZ 1990 defeated the HDZ BiH and managed to take part in formation of cantonal governments in three cantons with the Croat majority (cantons 7, 8 and 10).  Covic and his party could not afford another loss. Somehow they managed to isolate the HDZ 1990 from the Croatian HDZ, which was strongly supporting Ljubic’s party. Without Ivo Sanader (leader of Croatian HDZ and Croatian PM) in their corner, it was always going to be a struggle. Some might be even tempted to say the Catholic Church played a role in the rise of the HDZ BiH since the Pope Benedict XVI received a senior delegation of the HDZ BiH including Covic, the FBiH President Borjana Kristo, BiH Finance Minister Dragan Vrankic and then Mayor of Mostar Ljubo Beslic (all HDZ BiH). The audience with the Pope had the perfect timing, on October 1, just a handful of days prior to the local election. Coincidence? Yet, majority of ordinary people will say the HDZ 1990, which had promised changes, behaved like their former party colleagues as soon as they got little sniff of power. Meaning, same old people doing same old routine, looking after their narrow, personal interests.

It would appear tensions will be carried over into 2009 as reports suggest the HDZ BiH is on the offensive and is trying to woo the HDZ 1990 officials to its ranks in an effort to try and become part of authorities in the Croat cantons. In such an environment, chances of the Croat parties working together on issues such as formation of a (Croat) federal unit/third entity and formation of a separate RTV channel in the Croatian language are highly unlikely as none of the parties wants to be perceived as a “domestique” in the process. This especially refers to the HDZ 1990, whose popularity and status of a strong party has been compromised.

By Dejan Jurić

 

 

 

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