Latest events seem to have brought some change to political parties’ fortunes.
The monthly poll conducted by Promocija Plus agency in early April has shown the effect of latest political events. The results show that the Istanbul Convention ratification debate, the water pollution in Slavonski Brod, curricular reform controversy, the decision to buy military fighter jets and other events have had an impact on the popularity of parties and leading political figures in the country, reports N1 on April 8, 2018.
If parliamentary elections were conducted in early April, HDZ would be the election winner with the support of 26.8% of respondents (28.9% in March). This is the lowest level of support for the largest party since the last parliamentary elections. SDP is second with 21.1% (20.8% in March). Thus, HDZ’s advantage ahead of the leading opposition party fell to 5.7 percent (which is the smallest difference in the last 12 months).
For the fifth month in a row, Živi Zid is the third most popular party, with the support of 11.2% of respondents (10.9% in March). MOST is at the fourth place with 8.1% (7.1% a month ago).
Among smaller political parties, Independents for Croatia are at the fifth position (2.4%), followed by Croatian Peasants’ Party (HSS, 2.1%), Bandić Milan 365 (2%), Croatian People’s Party (HNS, 1.9%), Pametno (1.6%), Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS, 1.6%), Croatian Pensioners’ Party (HSU, 1.5%), liberal GLAS party (1.2%) and rightwing HSP AS party (1.1%).
For the first time since the parliamentary elections, the pollsters asked respondents about the popularity of potential coalitions. The centre-right alliance HDZ-HNS leads with 24.6% of support (84.4% of HDZ voters and 60% of HNS voters support this coalition). The left-centre SDP-HSS-HSU coalition is second with 21.6% of support. They are followed by two independent lists: Živi Zid (12.4%) and MOST (7.8%). Two more coalitions have managed to cross the electoral threshold at the national level (5%): the right-wing coalition Independents for Croatia-HSP AS-HKS (6.1%) and the left-liberal Amsterdam Coalition (GLAS-IDS-Pametno, 6%).
After three months, “no politician” again heads the list of politicians seen the most positively by voters (19%). President Kolinda Grabar Kitarović is second (16.5%), followed by Prime Minister Plenković (11%), and Živi Zid leaders Ivan Pernar (6.2%), and Ivan Vilibor Sinčić (5.8%).
The list of politicians seen negatively by the voters is headed by Prime Minister Plenković (24.4%), followed by “all politicians” (13.7%), SDP president Davor Bernardić (9.4%), Serbian national minority politician Milorad Pupovac (9.3%), and Deputy Prime Minister Martina Dalić (5.9%).
The current direction of the country is supported by 15.2% of citizens (17.6% in March), while 77% of respondents believe that Croatia is on the wrong track (72.2% in March).
The level of support for government’s politics stands at 30.7% (32.9% in March), which is the second lowest result for the current government. On the other hand, 55.4% of respondents do not support the government.
On the 1-5 scale, the government has received an average grade of 2.15, President Grabar-Kitarović 3.04, and Parliament 1.92.
The most important topic/event in March was the Istanbul Convention ratification controversy (conflicts within HDZ, the Church opposition, a protest held in Zagreb), selected by 32.5% of respondents. The pollution of water in Slavonski Brod was the most important topic for 17.9% of citizens, followed by the purchase the used Israeli military aircraft (12.8%), Agrokor crisis (6.8%), and flooding (6.5%).
Translated from N1.
