PROFILE: Dull but reliable Josipovic set to win Croatian presidency

Zagreb - Free from affairs, bereft of scandals, unburdened by any eccentricity, even the friends of Ivo Josipovic - the winner of the first round of the Croatian presidential elections on Sunday - call him "boring." But not even rivals try to deny the competence and reliability of the 52-year old Social Democrat - who is a holder of two university diplomas, in music and in law.

Instead Josipovic has turned his unremarkable appearance and cautious behavior into his strength and now, just six years after he entered politics, he stands on the threshold of the presidential office.

In the first round of the election, Jospiovic won more than 30 per cent of the votes cast, more than twice as much as his closest rival.

Josipovic has repeated the usual mantra of fighting corruption and for a better life of the average citizen.

He also said he can "no longer stand the injustice" stemming from the so-called "Fatherland War" of the 1990s, which destroyed many lives but allowed a corrupt few to become extremely rich and powerful.

Josipovic's motto of the "new justice" has appealed to the many Croats disappointed with the slow growth of their standard of living.

His musical education and talent - he is a former director of the Zagreb Musical Biennale and performs in public and even composes - also served his clean, warm and confidence-instilling image well.

Josipovic is married and has an 18-year-old daughter.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/301143,profile-dull-but-reliable-josipovic-set-to-win-croatian-presidency.html.