40 percent of Croatians don't want EU

http://www.croatiantimes.com/news/Gener ... 7t_want_EU

40 percent of Croatians don't want EU

Croatian Times

Almost half of Croatia's population (49.4 per cent) would give a clear "yes" to Croatia's EU membership today, while 40 per cent would be staunchly against it, the latest Cro Demoskop survey shows. The recent numbers show a slight improvement in Croatians' perception of the EU, with 0.3 per cent more voters than a month ago backing their country's accession. Some 10.2 per cent of the population is still undecided, the daily Jutarnji List writes. The most supportive of Croatia's EU memberships are those who vote for the majority party Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) at 63 per cent, followed by Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS or 62.5 per cent). The majority of the following parties' supporters are in favour of the EU accession: Croatian People's Party - Liberal Democrats (HNS, 58.3 per cent), Social Democratic Party (SDP with 57.5 per cent), Croatian Party of Pensioners (HSU with 55.9 per cent), while the voters of the coalition partner Croatian Peasant Party (HSS) are at 42.1 per cent. With 33 per cent, Croatian Citizens' Party (HGS) and Croatian Party of Rights (HSP) would give the least amount of support if a referendum for Croatia's EU membership were called today, the daily writes.

As an eurosceptic (hm, am I?) I would be happy if those surveys were true, but I'm utterly suspicious of their relevance.

For instance, last week one could read articles about certain anonymous EU country trying to stop Croatia's access. Observing the overall reactions of Croatian people on news of that kind ( reactions like insultness etc.), you simply cannot deduce that there are really 40% of true eurosceptics there.

Možda bi trebali sačekati dok se "magla" ne digne, de nebi opet srljali ko guske!

Pogledajte najnovije iz EU Parlamenta:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgAaK6Eav-Y

I think those numbers are true, but at the same time it would be a mistake to doubt the ability of the ruling structures to manufacture consent at a key junction, eg for an eventual accession referendum.

The anti-EU sentiment is not of the sort a short pro-EU campaign could not "fix". A few TV debates between EU supporters - inevitably well dressed and smooth talking politicians used to public performances - and EU opponents - scroungy looking "anti-globalists" bused in straight from a pub for the occasion and voila! You have everyone above the age of 45 dissuaded from going with the punks and on board for the "respectable" option.

Besides, it is precisely the more cynical and the less political who are against the EU, and they vote in smaller numbers than the party soldiers who are inevitably pro-EU.