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1/10/10

Croatia voting for new President

Opinion polls suggest Social Democrat Ivo Josipovic, who won December's vote with 32% of the ballot, is in the lead.  His challenger is the current mayor of Zagreb, Milan Bandic.  Croatia's president has little power to direct policy, so the election campaign has been focused on personality, rather than ideas.

The BBC Balkans correspondent Mark Lowen says the difference between the two men is stark.  Left-wing Mr Josipovic is a mild-mannered classical music composer and doctor of law, credited for his untarnished background but criticised for lacking charisma. He has promised voters he will launch an "uncompromising fight against corruption" if elected.

Mr Bandic, on the right, is a long-distance runner who says he is close to the people, but has been hit by corruption allegations.  He has urged Croatians to "vote for a man and not for a party". As he cast his vote in Zagreb on Sunday, he said he had "no doubt Croatian people, citizens of Croatia will choose the best candidate".

For more : BBC News - Croatia votes for new president


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