Croatia: A New President, A New Path · Global Voices
On Friday of last week, <PERSON> took office as Croatia's third president, replacing outgoing two-term president, <PERSON>. The BBC ran an extensive article covering what the new president symbolizes as well as the hurdles that Croatia faces in getting ever-closer to EU membership in 2011 or 2012. But, let's look at what bloggers are having to say about this large change of power that has coincided with Prime Minister, <PERSON>, suddenly stepping down last year and completely withdrawing from politics.
Funky Business writes (HRV) of the inauguration:
I very much liked today's inauguration of the new president. The whole ceremony was very culturally active, upscale and European.
On a previous post, the day the results were announced, Funky Business also wrote (HRV):
Croatia has elected justice. Croatia has chosen light. Croatia has chosen a better tomorrow. 289
Croatia has chosen educated, European president. Croatia has chosen wisely. Finally!
Others are more cautious as <PERSON> (french melt) wrote (HRV):
Tonight I am happy, happy but not euphoric. Happy because I was not disappointed, happy because he won the mind.
Naturally, there are detractors, such as some of these comments (HRV), especially one by <PERSON> (see this song):
All this is just a performance, nothing more…
we are all long since bought and sold…
politicians are just actors, who work in someone's script…
anything we do not choose, unless you want to watch the show or not,
that's all…
And it is echoed by a longer comment by <PERSON>:
Although I was too young to have participated in them, I remember the elections in the former Yugoslavia when we were offered the party candidates – on a piece of paper of five to six so that you, choose the selection. It is the same now.
<PERSON> has a daunting task ahead of him as Croatia is in a massive recession and the country has very large goals to reach EU membership. It is understandable that comments haven't been terribly forthcoming from Croatians at large as they wait to see if new leadership will bring new economic growth and stability. 260