MAIN OPPOSITION PARTY ELECTS YOUTHFUL NEW LEADER

UNCLAS ZAGREB 000546

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV HR POLITICAL PARTIES
SUBJECT: MAIN OPPOSITION PARTY ELECTS YOUTHFUL NEW LEADER

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Ref: Zagreb 00431


1. (SBU) Summary and Comment. Zoran Milanovic is the new President
of the Social Democratic Party of Croatia (SDP). A youthful 41
years old, this former diplomat defeated acting party president and
former defense minister Zeljka Antunovic in the second round of
voting by 828 to 675 votes of delegates at the extraordinary party
convention held on June 2. In the wake of the recent death of SDP's
first and only president Ivica Racan on 29 April, Milanovic's
victory signals the party's desire for change and for a fresh face
as its leader. A young, educated urbanite, Milanovic brings with
him significant knowledge on NATO and EU issues, and is favorably
inclined towards both institutions. Following his victory,
Milanovic reached out to his SDP colleagues and election
competitors, with whom he has close relations, and reconfirmed party
unity in looking ahead to parliamentary elections later this year.
Recent polls indicate an upswing in SDP support, and for now,
Milanovic appears well-positioned in the party, the general public,
and the media to capitalize on the excitement. Summary and Comment.



2. (U) At the convention, Milanovic handily beat Milan Bandic, the
powerful Mayor of Zagreb, and Tonino Picula, Mayor of Velika Gorica
and former foreign minister, who dropped out of the race in the
first round earlier in the day, leaving only Milanovic and the
seasoned Antunovic in the final round.


3. (U) Milanovic joined the SDP in 1999, much later than any of the
other three aspirants to party presidency. Until 2003 he was with
the Foreign Service where he rose to the position of assistant
minister and focused on EU and NATO-related issues. However, he
quit his job in diplomacy when his party lost elections in November
2003 to become a member of the SDP executive board, the party's
operational leadership. In preparation for parliamentary elections
expected in November, the SDP designated Milanovic as its campaign
coordinator for District Four that extends from the town of
Virovitica to the City of Osijek.


4. (U) As a new figure in Croatian politics, Milanovic immediately
won the favor of the media and general public. There was some
doubt, however, how he would do in an intra-party contest against
three influential veterans. The convention on Saturday showed the
party opted for changes, as if guessing what its late leader, Ivica
Racan, meant in his farewell letter when he called upon the SDP "to
look for new strength." As soon as elected, Milanovic said there
were "no losers in the SDP" since he counted on Antunovic, Bandic
and Picula to be his "closest associates." He reiterated his
support for the SDP economic strategist, Ljubo Jurcic, as the
party's candidate for Prime Minister. Appointment of campaign
coordinators for electoral districts will be one of his immediate
priorities, Milanovic said.


5. (U) Milanovic made his first public appearance as SDP President
the next day, at the Croatian People's Party (HNS) convention where
he called the HNS "a natural partner for the SDP." Later that day,
Milanovic toned down his affection for the HNS, saying in a popular
TV show that, as a junior partner, the HNS could not count on
getting both the prime ministerial position and the foreign ministry
in a future government (as HNS leaders had earlier demanded). HNS
leaders Vesna Pusic and Radimir Cacic described Milanovic's election
as SDP president as a good thing both for the SDP and Croatia as a
whole. President Stjepan Mesic, too, viewed the election of
Milanovic as "a big opportunity for the SDP." Only the ruling HDZ
called a press conference to say they did not care who the SDP
president was. Its ad-hoc spokesman Gordan Jandrokovic said that
"no SDP candidate has the necessary courage or ability" to defeat
the HDZ at parliamentary elections. The most recent polls give the
SDP a three-to-four percent lead over the ruling HDZ.
BRADTKE