The anti-establishment party’s popularity is growing.
If current popularity trends among political parties continue, the next elections could bring us a government which would turn Croatia upside down, reports Jutarnji List on April 28, 2018.
The popularity of two major parties, HDZ and SDP, is continuously falling, while Živi Zid is gaining support. The party led by Ivan Vilibor Sinčić and Ivan Pernar is currently around 13.8 percent. It is not impossible that, by the time of the next parliamentary elections. Živi Zid could reach as much as 30 percent, which would enable it to form a government in a coalition with other parties.
Of course, it is more realistic to expect Živi Zid’s popularity to reach an upper limit and remain under 30 percent. Still, it is entirely possible that the next coalition government will not be stable without their support.
How is it possible that a party with just three MPs, Pernar, Sinčić and Branimir Bunjac, without party bureaucracy, without media experts and PR agencies and with no media support, has done what other parties have not managed to do – win over young voters. While most voters of the established parties are aged 60 and over, Živi Zid has most support among those younger than 30.
The answer is equally what Živi Zid is doing and what it is not doing. The equation is simple. Pernar, Sinčić and Bunjac avoid all issues which divide the society and stimulate passions. “I do not care about the Istanbul Convention, crosses in schools, the definition of marriage, ‘For Homeland Ready’ slogan. I am interested only in a better life for our citizens, monetary reform, amending the laws in favour of persons with frozen bank accounts, rejection of our submissive attitude towards Brussels, lower VAT, legalization of marijuana, etc.,” Pernar wrote on social networks at a time when a debate about the Istanbul Convention was reaching its climax.
This is a pragmatic decision. Those who have no position do not create enemies, do not take responsibility and do not participate in processes which leave society exhausted and depressed. Also, that creates an impression that Živi Zid is a serious party which cares only about the everyday life of citizens.
Still, no one, not even Živi Zid, can just do nothing. Its parliamentary statistics are great. Since the beginning of this convocation of the parliament, its three MPs have sent 83 questions to the government. Furthermore, they spoke 2,197 times in parliament. Numbers do not show what they were saying, but it is impressive that Ivan Pernar asked to speak 968 times, Branimir Bunjac 916 times, and Ivan Vilibor Sinčić 313 times.
However, the real policy achievement of Živi Zid is legislative proposals which they have sent to the parliamentary procedure. Živi Zid has submitted 23 proposals, including eight joint opposition motions for dismissal of individual ministers. Of the remaining suggestions, there was one comprehensive legislative proposal, namely the Draft Law on Protection of Whistleblowers.
All other proposals were modifications of the existing regulations that would change Croatia dramatically. If Sinčić and Pernar were in power, we would soon see an epidemic of measles and other contagious diseases (Živi Zid wants to abolish compulsory vaccination). On the other hand, people could smoke marijuana wherever they want, and they would no longer have to pay monthly TV licence for the Croatian Radio Television. Foreign banks would probably flee Croatia since the party intends to introduce bank assets tax and reduce their revenues. There are also proposals to change the way paternity is established and to introduce changes in the winter heating system, but these are very partial proposals, motivated by particular individual interests.
What is sure is that Živi Zid in power would bring about a fundamental change in the way Croatia is governed.
Translated from Jutarnji List (reported by Ivanka Toma).
