Ruling SDP Party Third on Polls for First Time in 20 Years

For the first time in almost 20 years the ruling Zoran Milanović-led Social Democratic Party (SDP) is third in the polls…

Former ruling party the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) are still the most popular party in the country, according to the latest Crobarometar poll, which sees SDP drop out of the top two for the first time in almost two decades.

The green-oriented left-wing Croatian Sustainable Development party (ORaH), led by former Environment Minister Mirela Holy, has knocked the ruling party back into third spot and currently is second with 17.9% support. HDZ has a healthy lead with 25.7% support, with SDP losing ground by the month, with 17.3% support.

The real winner over the last 6 months has been Holy’s ORaH party. Holy, who won a seat in Parliament as a member of the Social Democratic Party, broke away after disagreements over party leadership to form ORaH last year. The next Croatian Parliamentary election will be held no later than February 2016, whilst the next Presidential election is set to be held either late 2014 or early 2015 at the latest.

Current President of Croatia Ivo Josipović still is in front in the popularity stakes, with 49% support. His main rival, Kolinda Grabar Kitarović, is in second place with 38% support.