Croatian Independent Democrats
Encyclopedia
Croatian Independent Democrats ( or HND) was a political party in Croatia
.
. In 1993 their unofficial champion Josip Manolić
, former right-hand man of President Franjo Tuđman, was becoming demoted and increasingly marginalised, while Gojko Šušak
, powerful defence minister and leader of hardline nationalist faction, was winning Tuđman's favour. Following the open rift between the two, Tuđman in Spring of 1994 tried to replace Manolić from the position of House of Chambers speaker. Manolić, however, preempted this by talking a number of HDZ representatives to support him together with opposition. Soon, he was joined by House of Representatives speaker Stjepan Mesić
and two of them announced split from HDZ and formation of new party. They accused Tuđman of embracing authoritarianism, extreme nationalism and irredentist policies towards Bosnia and Herzegovina
, which was, in their mind, betrayal of founding principles of HDZ. From that point onward, HND tried to describe itself as a "genuine" HDZ.
For a while, it looked that HDZ would ultimately lose parliamentary majority, but Tuđman in the end managed to keep number of its moderates in line, thus maintaining and later solidifying his grip on power. HND nevertheless managed to replace HDZ governments on local levels, most notably in Zagreb County
, an event that would eventually lead to Zagreb Crisis
.
On 1995 parliamentary elections, it became apparent that HND didn't attract many of HDZ voters, while those already opposed to Tuđman overwhelmingly preferred older opposition parties. As a result, HND failed to enter Sabor. This led Mesić to leave the party and join Croatian People's Party, while Manolić began to try mending ties with HDZ. As a result, HND became marginalised.
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 ...
.
History
Its founders were members of moderate faction within Croatian Democratic UnionCroatian 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...
. In 1993 their unofficial champion Josip Manolić
Josip Manolic
Josip Manolić is a Croatian politician who was one of the most important public figures in 1990s Croatia. He was prime minister of the Republic of Croatia from August 24, 1990 to July 17, 1991.-Background and political career:...
, former right-hand man of President Franjo Tuđman, was becoming demoted and increasingly marginalised, while Gojko Šušak
Gojko Šušak
Gojko Šušak was the Croatian Minister of Defence from 1991 to 1998. A Bosnian Croat emigreé to Canada, he entered the political life of Croat diaspora in North America, subsequently becoming a close friend and associate to Franjo Tuđman, the leader of the Croatian Democratic Union, a nationalistic...
, powerful defence minister and leader of hardline nationalist faction, was winning Tuđman's favour. Following the open rift between the two, Tuđman in Spring of 1994 tried to replace Manolić from the position of House of Chambers speaker. Manolić, however, preempted this by talking a number of HDZ representatives to support him together with opposition. Soon, he was joined by House of Representatives speaker Stjepan Mesić
Stjepan Mesić
Stjepan "Stipe" Mesić is a Croatian politician and former President of Croatia. Before his ten-year presidential term between 2000 and 2010 he held the posts of Speaker of the Croatian Parliament , Prime Minister of Croatia , the last President of the Presidency of Yugoslavia , Secretary General...
and two of them announced split from HDZ and formation of new party. They accused Tuđman of embracing authoritarianism, extreme nationalism and irredentist policies towards Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
, which was, in their mind, betrayal of founding principles of HDZ. From that point onward, HND tried to describe itself as a "genuine" HDZ.
For a while, it looked that HDZ would ultimately lose parliamentary majority, but Tuđman in the end managed to keep number of its moderates in line, thus maintaining and later solidifying his grip on power. HND nevertheless managed to replace HDZ governments on local levels, most notably in Zagreb County
Zagreb County
Zagreb County is a county in central Croatia. It surrounds – but does not contain – the nation's capital Zagreb, which is a separate territorial unit. For that reason, it is often nicknamed "Zagreb ring"...
, an event that would eventually lead to Zagreb Crisis
Zagreb Crisis
The Zagreb crisis is the name used to describe a political crisis that followed the elections for the City of Zagreb local assembly held in October 1995...
.
On 1995 parliamentary elections, it became apparent that HND didn't attract many of HDZ voters, while those already opposed to Tuđman overwhelmingly preferred older opposition parties. As a result, HND failed to enter Sabor. This led Mesić to leave the party and join Croatian People's Party, while Manolić began to try mending ties with HDZ. As a result, HND became marginalised.