Alliance for Change (Croatia)
Encyclopedia
Kukuriku coalition previously referred to as the Alliance for Change (), is a political alliance in Croatia
formed in 2010. It consists of four centre-left
parties in the Croatian Parliament
: Social Democratic Party of Croatia
, Croatian People's Party – Liberal Democrats, Istrian Democratic Assembly
and Croatian Party of Pensioners
.
Their somewhat facetious name Kukuriku, meaning "cock-a-doodle-doo", was taken after an eponymous restaurant in Kastav
where they had first convened in July 2009,
became well known, and eventually became the coalition's official name.
and HNS-LD was discussed in the 2007 general election
, however ultimately each party contested the election separately. The election resulted in HDZ
forming the Sanader II cabinet
and SDP returning to Opposition
. After the resignation of Prime Minister Ivo Sanader
the three parties: SDP, HNS-LD and IDS
; started discussing the possibility of contesting the next general election more extensively. On November 23, 2010 the three parties along with HSU
signed a declaration "Alliance for Change" officially confirming their intention of a joint appearance in the next election.
On September 15, 2011, the coalition officially presented their general programme called "Plan 21" in Zagreb.
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 ...
formed in 2010. It consists of four centre-left
Centre-left
Centre-left is a political term that describes individuals, political parties or organisations such as think tanks whose ideology lies between the centre and the left on the left-right spectrum...
parties in the Croatian Parliament
Parliament of Croatia
The Parliament of Croatia or the Sabor is the unicameral representative body of the citizens of the Republic of Croatia and legislature of the country. Under the terms of the Croatian Constitution, represents the people and is vested with the legislative power...
: 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...
, Croatian People's Party – Liberal Democrats, Istrian Democratic Assembly
Istrian Democratic Assembly
The Istrian Democratic Assembly is a Croatian regional and social liberal political party in Istria. The hyphenated abbreviation IDS-DDI is most commonly used....
and Croatian Party of Pensioners
Croatian Party of Pensioners
The Croatian Party of Pensioners is a Croatian political party. It is currently led by Silvano Hrelja.When the Party was founded, few people took it seriously and many commentators speculated that the ultimate purpose of HSU was take away pensioners' votes from rejuvenated SDP and thus help ruling...
.
Their somewhat facetious name Kukuriku, meaning "cock-a-doodle-doo", was taken after an eponymous restaurant in Kastav
Kastav
Kastav is a historical town located about 10 km northwest of Rijeka and about 5 km northeast of Opatija in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County in Croatia.-Demographics:The total population of Kastav is 10,472 ....
where they had first convened in July 2009,
became well known, and eventually became the coalition's official name.
Members
The coalition consists of four centre-left parties in Parliament:- Social Democratic Party of CroatiaSocial Democratic Party of CroatiaSocial Democratic Party of Croatia , commonly referred to in Croatia as simply Social Democratic Party , is the largest centre-left political party in Croatia...
led by Zoran MilanovićZoran MilanovicZoran Milanović is a Croatian politician, leader of the centre-left Social Democratic Party of Croatia , the main opposition party.- Early life :...
, a social democraticSocial democracySocial democracy is a political ideology of the center-left on the political spectrum. Social democracy is officially a form of evolutionary reformist socialism. It supports class collaboration as the course to achieve socialism...
party currently with 54 of 153 seats in Parliament. - Croatian People's Party – Liberal Democrats led by Radimir ČačićRadimir CacicRadimir Čačić is a Croatian politician and businessman, and the president of the Croatian People's Party – Liberal Democrats ....
, a liberalLiberalismLiberalism 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,...
party currently with 5 of 153 seats in Parliament. - Istrian Democratic AssemblyIstrian Democratic AssemblyThe Istrian Democratic Assembly is a Croatian regional and social liberal political party in Istria. The hyphenated abbreviation IDS-DDI is most commonly used....
led by Ivan JakovčićIvan JakovčićIvan Jakovčić is a Croatian politician and current head of the Istria County in Croatia.-Political career:...
, a regionalRegionalism (politics)Regionalism is a term used in international relations. Regionalism also constitutes one of the three constituents of the international commercial system...
and liberalLiberalismLiberalism 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,...
party, currently with 3 of 153 seats in Parliament. - Croatian Party of PensionersCroatian Party of PensionersThe Croatian Party of Pensioners is a Croatian political party. It is currently led by Silvano Hrelja.When the Party was founded, few people took it seriously and many commentators speculated that the ultimate purpose of HSU was take away pensioners' votes from rejuvenated SDP and thus help ruling...
led by Silvano Hrelja, a single-issueSingle-issue politicsSingle-issue politics involves political campaigning or political support based on one essential policy area or idea.-Political expression:...
party concerned with the rights of pensioners, currently with 1 of 153 seats in Parliament.
History
The idea of a joint party list of the main centre-left parties SDPSocial 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...
and HNS-LD was discussed in the 2007 general election
Croatian parliamentary election, 2007
Parliamentary elections to the Croatian Parliament were held on 25 November 2007 in Croatia and on 24 November and 25 November 2007 abroad. The campaign officially started on 3 November...
, however ultimately each party contested the election separately. The election resulted in 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...
forming the Sanader II cabinet
Cabinet of Ivo Sanader II
The second Cabinet of Prime Minister Ivo Sanader was announced on 12 January 2008. It was the 10th cabinet of Croatia, and its term ended on 6 July 2009 when Jadranka Kosor formed the 11th cabinet...
and SDP returning to Opposition
Opposition (Croatia)
The Opposition in Croatia is a term used to describe political parties represented in Parliament which are not a part of the government supported by the parliamentary majority....
. After the resignation of Prime Minister Ivo Sanader
Ivo Sanader
Ivo Sanader |Split]]) is a Croatian politician who served as the Prime Minister of Croatia from 2003 to 2009.Sanader obtained his education in comparative literature in Austria, where he also later worked in the 1980s. He worked as a journalist, in marketing, publishing and also as a private...
the three parties: SDP, HNS-LD and IDS
Istrian Democratic Assembly
The Istrian Democratic Assembly is a Croatian regional and social liberal political party in Istria. The hyphenated abbreviation IDS-DDI is most commonly used....
; started discussing the possibility of contesting the next general election more extensively. On November 23, 2010 the three parties along with HSU
Croatian Party of Pensioners
The Croatian Party of Pensioners is a Croatian political party. It is currently led by Silvano Hrelja.When the Party was founded, few people took it seriously and many commentators speculated that the ultimate purpose of HSU was take away pensioners' votes from rejuvenated SDP and thus help ruling...
signed a declaration "Alliance for Change" officially confirming their intention of a joint appearance in the next election.
On September 15, 2011, the coalition officially presented their general programme called "Plan 21" in Zagreb.