Regular monthly research by the "Promocija plus" agency on social and political preferences called "CRO Demoskop" conducted at the beginning of May, shows the effects of the most recent events at the Croatian political scene on the party ratings and perception of political actors.
If the parliamentary election was conducted in early May (with a 53-59 percent of turnout), the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) would win with 26.4 percent of the votes. Their current approval ratings are the lowest since the last parliamentary election. The social democratic party (SDP) enjoy the approval ratings of 20.7 percent, thus the HDZ’s advantage over the opposition parties remained the same since the last opinion rating, and it remains at 5.7 percent. The Zivi zid remained on the third position with 12.7 percent approval rating (compared to 11.2 percent in April). Most were placed fourth with 7.6 percent approval rating. Among the top four parties from the ruling majority, three recorded a decline compared to the month before, while Zivi zid recorded an increase in approval ratings. Compared to annual ratings, the biggest increase in approval ratings was recorded by Zvi zid with a 5.1 increase in approval ratings. On the other hand, the biggest decline in the annual approval ratings was recorded by HDZ – 4.4 percent, SDP –3.3 percent, Most –2.6 percent. The number of undecided voters rose by 2.4 percentage points, from 10.7 percent to the current 13.1 percent.
Following the leading four parties is Hasanbegovic’s Independent Party for Croatia with 2.6 percent. HSS is the sixth with 2.4 percent, while the seventh spot with 2.2 percent approval rating is shared by BM 365 and HNS. The approval rating between one and two percent was recorded by Pametno (1.7 percent), IDS (1.7 percent), HSU (1.5 percent), Glas (1.1 percent). Three parties with less than 1 percent approval ratings were: HSP AS (0.7 percent), HDSSB (0.4 percent) and HSLS (0.4 percent).
The top of the list for the positive of Croatian politician is held “Nobody” (no politician) with 25.1 percent of respondents opting for this option (19 percent last month). The second place is occupied by the President of Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic with a 16 percent approval rating (16.5 percent in April). Prime Minister Plenkovic kept on the third place with 11.2 percent approval rating (11 percent a month ago). Following are two leaders of the Zivi zid: Ivan Pernar with 6.4 percent (6.2 percent in April) and Ivan Sincic with 6.1 percent (5.8 percent in April).
The direction of the country’s policies is supported by 16.2 percent of citizens (15.2 percent in April). A total of 74.5 percent of respondents believe that Croatia is heading in the wrong direction, compared to 77 percent in April. The level of Government support in the eighteenth month of its mandate is 31.3 percent (compared to 30.7 percent of the previous survey in April). When it comes to the disapproval of the Government’s policy 52.8 percent said they disapprove the Government’s policies.
The Croatian President was rated with a stable 3.06 grade from his work (compared to 3.04 in April). The country’s most representative body, the Croatian Parliament, has a monthly score of 1.95 (in April 1.92). The most important topic/event in the last month was the ratification of the Istanbul Convention and events related to this topic, said the 29.3 percent of Croatian citizens. Agrokor events and the decision of the Court in London on the extradition of Todoric, including his appeal for extradition, is the second most important topic for with 18.8 percent of Croatian citizens voting for it, while the third most important event in the country is the signing of the Peljesac Bridge Construction Agreement (10.7 percent).
