ZAGREB, CROATIA – An exceptionally secret and above all extensive research of the Puls agency, and an independent poll by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) have revealed that current Zagreb Mayor Milan Bandic would win at the election for mayor, if it were held now, the media report!

It is a shame that the study did not ask the subjects to name all Bandic`s counter-candidates, who are ruthlessly and shamelessly advertised every day. It is hard to believe that someone has not heard of Jasen Mesic, Bandic`s biggest rival. He truly watched Bandic`s every step, literally runs around Zagreb following him at 5 a.m. and is advertised at every corner.

Or Miroslav Rozic, who is already putting up posters throughout Zagreb. Or Pero Kovacevic who tours cafes, the Dolac Market, the Kvaternik Square and all busy points in Zagreb, distributing his cards. Of course, we have the man from “the shadows”, Radimir Cacic.

Unfortunately, the real truth is that nobody has head of these candidates, apart from the Croatian People`s Party (HNS) Radimir Cacic. Nobody but their closest and those who have to follow activities on the city`s political scene. But, while Rozic, Kovacevic and Cacic will be getting the votes of their most loyal followers, Jasen Mesic will do a good job at the elections. Not because he is a member of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), not because he is capable or because he has promoted himself, but because he has the same surname as the Croatian president.

- Oi Stefica, come `ere! Is that our Stipe running for Zagreb mayor? Give me that pen, I`ll circle his number – pillars from the market will be voting, telling their friends and husbands that Mesic is changing his presidential seat for the head city seat.

Bandic`s advisors will be playing a dirty game

The only thing is that Bandic`s advisors have predicted this. They don`t make all that money for nothing. This is why Milan Bandic will have subliminal messages in his every speech just before the elections.

- I will continue with my work as I have all these years, hard-working, fair and for the wellbeing of all Zagreb citizens, as well as the surroundings! I don`t bother myself with my opponents who accuse me of various things, because I believe in the law-based state! Let the law-based state do its work! If some, like my counter-candidate Jasen, believe that this is not the case, let them wonder, really wonder if they believe in Croatia which is based on certain values! Jasen, are you trying to say that Croatia is not functioning as a state? Sa that, Jasen, in front of all these honest people – Milan Bandic will be shouting, holding a paper with his speech, while advisors will be giggling behind him, victoriously.

Unfortunately, Jasen Mesic will not stand a chance at these games, because his party governor has fired all advisors who have been warning him of the economic crisis and inflation before the end of 2008. But, the counter-candidate will realise what he needs to do.

- This city deserves better, this city can do better, the citizens of this city need more! I will facilitate this if you elect me, if my name is Mesic – this will be an attempt of keen Jasen Mesic, but it would be late, because Bandic will take the last indecisive voter with his eloquence.

The sad truth is that nobody actually has the will to take over the city, which was proved by Rozic and Kovacevic when they raised their hands up for the reconstruction (devastation) of Cvjetni Square. And Cacic and Mesic cannot do a thing because Bandic has the support of the Zagreb Holding Company, which functions according to a simple system.

- If the boss goes, I go, and if I go, then you go – the voice will resound from the top of the stairs towards the bottom. And there are some 6,000 stairs at the Holding Company, with at least one more family member standing on them.

And the electorate base is created, some 20,000 people will circle Milan Bandic. Seeing how only 35 percent of Zagreb citizens took to the elections, out of some 350,000 potential voters, 40 percent of which gave their vote to current mayor Milan Bandic, it is easy to calculate that 40,000 people decided on Bandic in 2005.

The numbers are clear, Bandic has the half of the necessary quota to start with. It will be easy to raise the rest because there are several thousand SDP members and thousands of those who support the party. Regardless of the fact that they many not like Bandic, they will follow the old saying “better him, than have HDZ give us a mayor”.

Nothing new in Zagreb. The swimming pool in Svetice quarter, a new airport and a stadium will be intended for some other time…