HNS is currently going through an exceptionally difficult and almost critical period: its popularity is tumbling, it has been caught between the coalition partners and mass media. The Church and opposition think the worst of HNS, led by Vesna Pusić. This party, with its huge ambitions and goals, which has only been accustomed to its past success, has reacted in shock to the current situation; a large part of the leading politicians from HNS have lost their nerves, and through their angry attacks and uncontrollable behavior have, in only one month, began to crumble the leaders of HNS have spent years painstakingly building: the image of educated, modern, competent and intelligent politicians in their party.

The newest public opinion poll has shocked the leaders of HNS: after popularity growth over the past several years, during April and May 2003, a significant drop in election ratings resulted for the first time. In Marketel’s poll, for example, HNS fell from 8.7% to 6.4% popularity.

Meanwhile, SDP and HSS, the main coalition partners of HNS, are competing to see which of them, with the support of mass media, can slander Vesna Pusić’s party. The biggest blow was received by the Minister of Public Works, Renovation, and Construction, Radimir Čačić. The coalition partners accused him of abusing his ministerial function and ensuring that his wife’s corporation received government funded projects. They are also criticizing his attempt at financing his own pre-electoral campaign with Government funds. LS and Libra are also not hiding their disappointment with HNS’s behavior: they claim that Vesna Pusić and her colleagues, taken over by the public poll results, have lost their sense of reality and cooperation and have overestimated their chances at winning in the election. They believe that HNS is the main obstacle in creating a strong and perspective left center coalition that would, apart from HNS, include IDS, LS, Libra and other regional parties.

Church concerns

The opposition and the Church leadership see HNS as a dangerous party that orients itself as anti-Croatian and anti-Catholic. Because Vesna Pusić has always been a thorn in the side of right-wing opposition and Church hierarchy, that description of HNS does not represent surprise. On the other hand, changes in the mood of the elective body and the coalition partners have seriously began to worry party leaders.

Slavko Sajber, during the television show “Sunday at Two”, testified to the exceptionally dangerous tendencies of HNS. The former party leader in Zagreb said that he considered voting for HNS in the upcoming election, but after everything that happened in City Council, he decided that he would spend Election Day at Stubičke thermal resort, walking and enjoying the sunshine while at the same time, ignoring his right to vote.

HNS has returned in boomerang fashion, remarking that its supporters have idealized the leadership and the entire party. Since the election in 2000, the public has perceived HNS as something different than the other parties. Because of that, many people who have been disappointed with SDP, HSLS, HSS, and LS have become partial to HNS… HNS has won over citizens who cannot accept dishonesty, corruption, criminal activity, uncivilized behavior, primitivism, as well as anti-European and anti-democratic behavior.

Many citizens hoped that HNS would be the only remaining party that is capable of clearing away the negative criminal legacy of HDZ, which SDP, HSLS and HSS did not want to process and punish. Mainly because of this reason, the potential voters for HNS, who are frustrated with events that have unfolded on the political scene, were crushed by the realization that even HNS may not be any different that the other parties, despite their hopes.

Zagreb HNS troubles

This opinion is the result of the behavior of several city politicians that are members of HNS, first of all, Srećko Ferenčak, whom a large part of the public to have conspired with Zdravko Mamić, director of Dinamo. It is believed that he attempted to bypass laws and set up the construction of two skyscrapers in a location that GUP did not foresee for tall buildings. The removal of Miljenko Mesić, HNS’s head of civil engineering who opposed this deal, as well as the physical attack on him by Mamić in Mayor Vlasta Pavic’s office is seen as proof that HNS does not differ too much from the other parties. Instead of protecting its member, HNS removed Miljenko Mesić despite public scandal, and he was perceived by the public to be a victim of uncivilized violence committed by Zdravko Mamić.

Even Vesna Pusić’s behavior at a city council meeting, where she ignored discussions by reading a book and placing her hands over her ears, did not go over well with the general public. The final blow to HNS was inflicted on Radimir Čačić: coming into conflict with reporters and preaching advice to everyone, many believe that power and control have gone to his head. Even though many accusations against him may not be true, his behavior is intolerable because it contradicts the image that HNS created of a party consisting of modest and honest individuals.

When HNS was a small party, with one Minister and two representatives, the public and opposing parties did not consider their importance. However, when the popularity of HNS began to grow, when they developed into the fourth strongest party, they found themselves under fire by party competition, and citizens began to observe them with much more attention. SDP became especially aggressive when they convinced themselves that HNS had stolen a portion of the elective body, and that Vesna Pusić and Radimir Čačić are the main culprits for their distress and fall in popularity.

Not long ago they suitably returned the blow: Milan Bandić accused Srećko Ferenčak, a member of HNS and city council, of rigging the appointments for large city functions; he did not refute the accusation in a convincing fashion.

HNS’s officials did not do a good job at reacting to the situation and events that have harmed their party’s image. Because of that, citizens did not accept the excuse that Miljenko Mesić was removed of his position; it is impermissible that a city official, especially one that is a member of a party that claims its civilized manner, beats an official with a cane. Furthermore, no one understood the speed by which Mesić was removed from his position, although the party justifies the suspicions that Milan Bandić had control over Mesić and that everything that Mesić did was in accordance with Bandić’s instructions. HNS claims that if Mesić had remained in his position, he would have helped Bandić in pushing forth his variation on the GUP and projects within, which is unacceptable to HNS and, therefore, they insisted on Mesić’s quick removal. HNS is confident that his successor, Mislav Žagar, will put a stop to Bandić’s attempts at manipulating important city documents.

Lack of control

Vesna Pusić argues that the public wrongly has perceived her declarations. She claims that she was only trying to demonstrate her anger against several representatives from HIP, HB, and HDZ and what they said at the town meeting- she could not bear the fact that immoral people were preaching about integrity and honor. Her intent is least important, what is most crucial is public opinion. In this case, the public opinion was negative.

All that shows is that a part of the leading members of HNS carried good results in the public poll, and have gained importance. A portion of HNS came close to control, money, power, fame, and some of them did not know how to handle it. Because of that, their weaknesses and flaws were apparent on the surface. Even in HNS, there are members that entered politics in the hopes of fast social promotion and the improvement of their material situation, as well as managers and entrepreneurs that are less interested in politics, and more interested in business and how to advance business by using politics.

The recent events are hard blows for HNS. Vesna Pusić, Radimir Čačić and their colleagues are sure that HNS, alongside SDP, HDZ, and HSS will become a member of the big four parties that will shape Croatia’s future over the next years. They also believe that they will have at least three or four ministerial resources and fifteen parliamentary representatives in the new Government.

Members of HNS believe that the new Government will not be able to come together without them, that Vesna Pusić will become Minister for Foreign Affairs, Radimir Čačić will remain Minister for Public Works, Renovation and Construction, Anto Nobilo will become Minister for Justice, and Doctor Petar Lučin from Rijeka will become the Minister for Science and Technology. Members of HNS believe that the strength of the coalition partners will be able to implement a fast tempo for change and reform, as well as their own model for political and economic renewal of the country to ensure the quickest possible entry into the EU. The emphasis will be placed on reforms in judiciary matters and science, which HNS is already preparing Nobilo and Lučin for. A large project aimed to slow down confusion in development is under development, as well as to create a new model of reconstruction and a strategy of employment and agricultural development. Vesna Pusić, claiming her party leadership, is ready to create a string of spectacular moves if she is selected as Minister for Foreign Affairs.

In order to do that, members of HNS have to analyze the reasons why election ratings have dropped, find those responsible and discover a way to improve the mistakes that have been committed. Despite evident weaknesses and problems, the fact is that the other parties have bad reputations in public opinion; HNS has a chance at recording the largest ever growth of electorate support. If Vesna Pusić manages to control some of the party’s members, and if she does not turn away from problems that arise or individuals that discredit the party, HNS will be able to become the prime mover of change and reform, as well as the quickest way for Croatia to enter the EU.