Sanader approval rating flagging

Support for Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader and his government is at its lowest level since he first took office, according to the latest opinion polls. A Promotion Plus poll of 1,300 citizens conducted in December found that the government’s approval rating was at a lowly 2.42. Sanader approval rating flagging CRO Demoskop’s monthly poll showed that only 23.7 percent of citizens wholeheartedly or generally supported Sanader’s government’s policies, the lowest level since October 2006. Almost a third of respondents (31.7 percent) regard Sanader as the most negative politician in the country, as compared to 18.1 percent a year ago. After the prime minister, the second most unpopular politician in the country is Zoran Milanovic, leader of the opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP), followed in third place by “all politicians”, with Anto Djapic of the right-wing Croatian Law Party in fourth at 4.6 percent. These figures come in the wake of revelations concerning a detrimental contract signed a few years ago with a Slavonian businessmen, who is now in prison. President Stjepan Mesic continues to be the most popular politician according to 20.5 percent of respondents, followed by Milanovic with 14.6 percent, and Sanader with 13.8 percent. As far as the parties are concerned, the SDP continues to top the polls with 28.7 percent support, followed by the Croatian Democratic Community (HDZ) with 25.9 percent, nine percent down on their showing in the November 2007 parliamentary elections. If elections were held today, the only other parties to pass the five percent census mark would be the Croatian National Party (5.4 percent) and the ruling Croatian Peasant Party (5.1 percent), while the Pensioners’ Party would fall short with 3.2 percent. According to 34.5 percent of respondents, the most important theme in December was the Slovenian blockade of Croatia’s pre-accession talks, 23.9 percent identified the economic crisis, while only 1.6 cited the call to boycott Slovenian products and businesses. The blockade in EU talks has led to a drop in public support for EU membership. Standing at 58.1 percent in November, support for the EU has fallen to 48.6 percent, the lowest level since September 2007. Another point of interest is that a quarter of respondents have no intention of voting at the presidential elections due a year from now. Ivo Sanader (FoNet, archive)

Sanader approval rating flagging

CRO Demoskop’s monthly poll showed that only 23.7 percent of citizens wholeheartedly or generally supported Sanader’s government’s policies, the lowest level since October 2006.

Almost a third of respondents (31.7 percent) regard Sanader as the most negative politician in the country, as compared to 18.1 percent a year ago.

After the prime minister, the second most unpopular politician in the country is Zoran Milanović, leader of the opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP), followed in third place by “all politicians”, with Anto Đapić of the right-wing Croatian Law Party in fourth at 4.6 percent.

These figures come in the wake of revelations concerning a detrimental contract signed a few years ago with a Slavonian businessmen, who is now in prison.

President Stjepan Mesić continues to be the most popular politician according to 20.5 percent of respondents, followed by Milanović with 14.6 percent, and Sanader with 13.8 percent.

As far as the parties are concerned, the SDP continues to top the polls with 28.7 percent support, followed by the Croatian Democratic Community (HDZ) with 25.9 percent, nine percent down on their showing in the November 2007 parliamentary elections.

If elections were held today, the only other parties to pass the five percent census mark would be the Croatian National Party (5.4 percent) and the ruling Croatian Peasant Party (5.1 percent), while the Pensioners’ Party would fall short with 3.2 percent.

According to 34.5 percent of respondents, the most important theme in December was the Slovenian blockade of Croatia’s pre-accession talks, 23.9 percent identified the economic crisis, while only 1.6 cited the call to boycott Slovenian products and businesses.

The blockade in EU talks has led to a drop in public support for EU membership. Standing at 58.1 percent in November, support for the EU has fallen to 48.6 percent, the lowest level since September 2007.

Another point of interest is that a quarter of respondents have no intention of voting at the presidential elections due a year from now.