Coalition of People's Accord
Encyclopedia
Coalition of People's Accord was the bloc of mostly moderate nationalist and liberal
parties formed on the eve of first multi-party elections
in Croatia
in 1990.
Coalition was initiated by ex-communists Savka Dabčević-Kučar and Miko Tripalo
, two leaders of Croatian Spring
who, unlike most other Croatian nationalist icons, declined to form their own party after the arrival of multi-party in Croatia. They feared that the large number of competing parties would ultimately lead to nationalist and anti-Communist votes being split, thus allowing the League of Communists of Croatia
to remain in power. Instead they advocated that all those parties form broad coalition with two of them as nominal leaders.
Another stated reason for forming Coalition was desire for Croatia to have post-Communist government of many different parties instead of one, which was supposed to help develop the nascent democracy and prevent eventual return to one-party rule.
At first, it looked like Dabčević-Kučar's and Tripalo's plan was working. Coalition was indeed joined by large number of parties - centrist Croatian Social Liberal Party
, right-wing Croatian Democratic Party and Croatian Christian Democratic Party, as well as the nominally left-wing Social Democrats of Croatia and number of local, youth and environmentalist groups and individual candidates. Another boost came in the form of open letter by some 200 top Croatian artists, scientists and intellectuals expressing support for Coalition.
However, it soon became apparent that Coalition would have to compete not only with the Communist government, but also with the more extremist Croatian Democratic Union
(HDZ). The emerging nationalist ideas among the individual people of Yugoslavia at the time garnered popularity for such radical parties. This made Coalition look moderate, and hurt their popularity with the Croatian people.
Another obstacle for Coalition was runoff voting
system, which favored two strongest parties or electoral blocs. In the first round of elections it became apparent that reformed-communists, now rebranded into Social Democratic Party of Croatia
, had enough support to finish second in most of the constituencies. Most of the Coalition candidates finished third, although most of them refused to get out of the race before the second round.
In the end, only a small number of Coalition candidates was elected, 21 in all three houses of parliament. HDZ won majority in Croatian Parliament, while SDP became the main opposition party.
Soon Coalition began to disintegrate. HDS took radical views towards new HDZ government, while other Coalition parties adopted more centrist policies. Dabčević-Kučar and Tripalo formed their own Croatian People's Party in Autumn 1990.
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
parties formed on the eve of first multi-party elections
Croatian parliamentary election, 1990
Parliamentary elections were held in Croatia on 22 April 1990, with a second round of voting on 6 May. The first free elections since multi-party politics were introduced, they resulted in a victory for the Croatian Democratic Union, which won 55 of the 80 seats...
in Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
in 1990.
Coalition was initiated by ex-communists Savka Dabčević-Kučar and Miko Tripalo
Miko Tripalo
Miko Tripalo was a Croatian and Yugoslav politician.A son of well-to-do farmers' family near Sinj, he joined Tito's Partisans as a teenager...
, two leaders of Croatian Spring
Croatian Spring
The Croatian Spring was a political movement from the early 1970s that called for greater rights for Croatia which was then part of Yugoslavia as well as democratic and economic reforms.-History:...
who, unlike most other Croatian nationalist icons, declined to form their own party after the arrival of multi-party in Croatia. They feared that the large number of competing parties would ultimately lead to nationalist and anti-Communist votes being split, thus allowing the League of Communists of Croatia
League of Communists of Croatia
League of Communists of Croatia was the Croatian branch of the League of Communists of Yugoslavia . Until 1952, it was known as Communist Party of Croatia .- History :...
to remain in power. Instead they advocated that all those parties form broad coalition with two of them as nominal leaders.
Another stated reason for forming Coalition was desire for Croatia to have post-Communist government of many different parties instead of one, which was supposed to help develop the nascent democracy and prevent eventual return to one-party rule.
At first, it looked like Dabčević-Kučar's and Tripalo's plan was working. Coalition was indeed joined by large number of parties - centrist Croatian Social Liberal Party
Croatian Social Liberal Party
Croatian Social Liberal Party or HSLS is a conservative liberal political party in Croatia. The party is a member of Liberal International and the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party. Its current president is Darinko Kosor, elected to that post in November 2009.-Chronology:The HSLS was...
, right-wing Croatian Democratic Party and Croatian Christian Democratic Party, as well as the nominally left-wing Social Democrats of Croatia and number of local, youth and environmentalist groups and individual candidates. Another boost came in the form of open letter by some 200 top Croatian artists, scientists and intellectuals expressing support for Coalition.
However, it soon became apparent that Coalition would have to compete not only with the Communist government, but also with the more extremist Croatian Democratic Union
Croatian Democratic Union
The Croatian Democratic Union is the main center-right political party in Croatia. It is the biggest and strongest individual Croatian party since independence of Croatia. The Christian democratic HDZ governed Croatia from 1990 to 2000 and, in partial coalition, from 2003...
(HDZ). The emerging nationalist ideas among the individual people of Yugoslavia at the time garnered popularity for such radical parties. This made Coalition look moderate, and hurt their popularity with the Croatian people.
Another obstacle for Coalition was runoff voting
Two-round system
The two-round system is a voting system used to elect a single winner where the voter casts a single vote for their chosen candidate...
system, which favored two strongest parties or electoral blocs. In the first round of elections it became apparent that reformed-communists, now rebranded into Social Democratic Party of Croatia
Social Democratic Party of Croatia
Social Democratic Party of Croatia , commonly referred to in Croatia as simply Social Democratic Party , is the largest centre-left political party in Croatia...
, had enough support to finish second in most of the constituencies. Most of the Coalition candidates finished third, although most of them refused to get out of the race before the second round.
In the end, only a small number of Coalition candidates was elected, 21 in all three houses of parliament. HDZ won majority in Croatian Parliament, while SDP became the main opposition party.
Soon Coalition began to disintegrate. HDS took radical views towards new HDZ government, while other Coalition parties adopted more centrist policies. Dabčević-Kučar and Tripalo formed their own Croatian People's Party in Autumn 1990.