By Ivan Vejvoda
BELGRADE – The landslide victory of Ivo Josipović in the January 10 presidential elections in Croatia bodes well, not just for the country, but also for the Western Balkans as a whole — not least for the region’s hopes for membership in the European Union. The 52-year-old Social Democrat, a tenured professor of international criminal law and renowned composer, won with a 20-point margin in the second round of the election, which had more than 50% turnout.
In the campaign, Josipović came across as a voice of reason and moderation. In a region where charisma has often been coupled with other, more unpleasant personality traits, this uncharismatic leader’s appeal lies in his determination to grapple with endemic corruption and organized crime and his standing for a renewed sense of justice. His call for dialogue and cooperation in the region also appealed to voters tired of petty divisions. As a candidate of the opposition Social-Democratic Party of Croatia, he rallied the support of both opposition and incumbent parties — the Croatian People’s Party and the Independent Democratic Serb Party — in the second round. A yearning for normalcy and a weariness with populist voices carried the day. His opponent Milan Bandic, the incumbent Mayor of Zagreb, simply did not stand a chance to out-flank Josipović with his populist rhetoric.
In Brussels, the same week saw the members of the new EU Commission being grilled by the European Parliament — with special attention to enlargement. Catherine Ashton, the new EU foreign and security policy High Representative, said that the future of the Western Balkans, and the region’s move toward EU membership, will be one of her priorities. Stefan F
