Zagreb local elections, 2005
Encyclopedia
The Zagreb local elections of 2005 were held on May 15, 2005 in Zagreb
, the capital of Croatia
. On the last local elections, in 2001, Milan Bandić
had been re-elected as the mayor of Zagreb. However, a 2002 incident made him resign in favor of Vlasta Pavić
, a deputy mayor chosen by Social Democratic Party
, Bandić's party. Pavić remained formally in control of the city until 2005. However, she was moved down the list of candidates to the 16th place, returning the local candidacy to Milan Bandić.
The elections mainly pitted the former mayors Milan Bandić (coalition of SDP
, HSS
and HSU) and Marina Matulović-Dropulić
(coalition of HDZ
, DC
, HSLS
and Croatian Demochristians), the two being represented by the two major Croatian political parties, SDP and HDZ (Croatian Democratic Union
). SDP gained 25 seats in the Zagreb city council
, receiving 40.95% votes, with Milan Bandić winning his third term as the Zagreb mayor.
, the head of Croatian People's Party (HNS) was vexed by the candidacy, presumably as Bandić had to resign from his earlier term due to a driving under the influence
scandal and numerous other affairs. Pusić announced the breakup of the SDP-HNS coalition
, which was established in 2000 before Bandić became the mayor of Zagreb for the first time. Due to this breakup, HNS ran together with Liberal Party of Croatia (LS) with Pusić for mayor. However, Pusić's solo campaign wasn't successful and she collected only 8% of votes. The LS was later incorporated into Croatian Social Liberal Party
(HSLS). SDP ran with Croatian Peasant Party
(HSS) and Croatian Pensioners' Party (HSU), two parties with little influence in Zagreb. The Croatian Democratic Union
(HDZ) entered a coalition with various right-wing and center parties including Democratic Center
(DC), Croatian Demochristians (HD) and HSLS.
, the HDZ candidate, while Miroslav Rožić
of HSP finished third.
Local elections candidates in Croatia are either political party representatives or representatives of independent lists. Write-ins are not allowed.
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
, the capital of 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 ...
. On the last local elections, in 2001, Milan Bandić
Milan Bandic
Milan Bandić is an influential Croatian politician currently serving his fourth term as mayor of Croatia's capital, Zagreb. Between 2000 and 2009, he was a prominent member of the Social Democratic Party of Croatia . In 2007, he unsuccessfully ran for party president. However, he remained one of...
had been re-elected as the mayor of Zagreb. However, a 2002 incident made him resign in favor of Vlasta Pavić
Vlasta Pavic
Vlasta Pavić is a former mayor of Zagreb and a member of the Social Democratic Party of Croatia .-Her term as Mayor:Pavić was elected mayor of Zagreb on March 1, 2002 after Milan Bandić was forced to resign due to a public scandal. She was elected with the support of city assembly members of the...
, a deputy mayor chosen by Social Democratic Party
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...
, Bandić's party. Pavić remained formally in control of the city until 2005. However, she was moved down the list of candidates to the 16th place, returning the local candidacy to Milan Bandić.
The elections mainly pitted the former mayors Milan Bandić (coalition of SDP
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...
, HSS
Croatian Peasant Party
The Croatian Peasant Party is a center and socially conservative political party in Croatia.-Austria-Hungary:The Croatian People's Peasant Party was formed on December 22, 1904 by Antun Radić along with his brother Stjepan Radić. The party contested elections for the first time in the Kingdom of...
and HSU) and Marina Matulović-Dropulić
Marina Matulovic-Dropulic
Marina Matulović-Dropulić is a Croatian politician, member of the Croatian Democratic Union.Matulović-Dropulić served as the mayor of Zagreb in two mandates - first an appointment for a couple of months in 1996 during the Zagreb Crisis, and again after the 1997 elections, until 2000.In the 2000...
(coalition of HDZ
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...
, DC
Democratic Centre
The Democratic Centre is a Croatian political party.The Party was formed in 2000 by Mate Granić and Vesna Škare-Ožbolt after they left the centre-right Croatian Democratic Union following the party's defeat in the January 2000 election and Mate Granić's defeat in the February 2000 presidential race...
, HSLS
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...
and Croatian Demochristians), the two being represented by the two major Croatian political parties, SDP and HDZ (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...
). SDP gained 25 seats in the Zagreb city council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
, receiving 40.95% votes, with Milan Bandić winning his third term as the Zagreb mayor.
Coalitions
After the announcement of Milan Bandić as SDP's mayor candidate, Vesna PusićVesna Pusic
Vesna Pusić is a member of Croatian Parliament and one of the main speakers of the opposition Croatian People's Party - Liberal Democrats in the Parliament...
, the head of Croatian People's Party (HNS) was vexed by the candidacy, presumably as Bandić had to resign from his earlier term due to a driving under the influence
Driving under the influence
Driving under the influence is the act of driving a motor vehicle with blood levels of alcohol in excess of a legal limit...
scandal and numerous other affairs. Pusić announced the breakup of the SDP-HNS coalition
Coalition
A coalition is a pact or treaty among individuals or groups, during which they cooperate in joint action, each in their own self-interest, joining forces together for a common cause. This alliance may be temporary or a matter of convenience. A coalition thus differs from a more formal covenant...
, which was established in 2000 before Bandić became the mayor of Zagreb for the first time. Due to this breakup, HNS ran together with Liberal Party of Croatia (LS) with Pusić for mayor. However, Pusić's solo campaign wasn't successful and she collected only 8% of votes. The LS was later incorporated into 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...
(HSLS). SDP ran with Croatian Peasant Party
Croatian Peasant Party
The Croatian Peasant Party is a center and socially conservative political party in Croatia.-Austria-Hungary:The Croatian People's Peasant Party was formed on December 22, 1904 by Antun Radić along with his brother Stjepan Radić. The party contested elections for the first time in the Kingdom of...
(HSS) and Croatian Pensioners' Party (HSU), two parties with little influence in Zagreb. The 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) entered a coalition with various right-wing and center parties including Democratic Center
Democratic Centre
The Democratic Centre is a Croatian political party.The Party was formed in 2000 by Mate Granić and Vesna Škare-Ožbolt after they left the centre-right Croatian Democratic Union following the party's defeat in the January 2000 election and Mate Granić's defeat in the February 2000 presidential race...
(DC), Croatian Demochristians (HD) and HSLS.
Results
Milan Bandić, the leader of the Zagreb SDP, won the elections, starting his third term as the mayor of Zagreb. Even at a turnout of 35%, Bandić received less than 50% of the votes, having won votes of only a seventh of all eligible voters registered in Zagreb in 2005. The runner-up was Marina Matulović-DropulićMarina Matulovic-Dropulic
Marina Matulović-Dropulić is a Croatian politician, member of the Croatian Democratic Union.Matulović-Dropulić served as the mayor of Zagreb in two mandates - first an appointment for a couple of months in 1996 during the Zagreb Crisis, and again after the 1997 elections, until 2000.In the 2000...
, the HDZ candidate, while Miroslav Rožić
Miroslav Rožic
Miroslav Rožić is a Croatian right-wing politician. As a former vice-president of Croatian Party of Rights , he served as a representative in Croatian Parliament between 2001 and 2007...
of HSP finished third.
Local elections candidates in Croatia are either political party representatives or representatives of independent lists. Write-ins are not allowed.