In Croatia we call such minor parties "rat parties", because they do nothing but "nip" on votes of major parties. Either way, American political scene is pretty boring, with two dominant parties that hardly differ in their programme. Croatian scene is much more exciting. Without futher ado, here's my ultimate guide to Croatian political parties!
Croatian Democratic Union - HDZ - The strongest party in Croatia. Led by the late Croatian dictator - err, president Franjo Tudjman, they ruled the country from 1991 to 2000. That era of Croatian political life is marked with corruption, incompetence, lack of democracy and extreme right-wing ideology. Under patronage of corrupt politicians, the entire economy was given into hands of tycoons who robbed this country of billions of dollars and caused a massive crisis on all levels. In late 2003, HDZ came to power again, this time with a new, democratic, pro-European face. In the matter of months, however, they began to show their true face - that of incompetence, corruption and autocracy. In less than eight months, their inept running of this country, without any vision or inventiveness, has led to the fastest downfall in standard of living and economic growth since 1999.
Social-Democratic Party - SDP - SDP, led by Ivica Racan (formerly president of the Socialist Republic Croatia in 1989 and 1990, prime minister from 2000 to 2003) are basically reformed communists. Officially, they have a moderately leftist programme, though they are really moderate centre. This second most powerful party used to be the leading party of the coalition that won the January 3rd election in 2000. They promised a radical turn in Croatian politics, more democracy, fast entrance into the European Union and NATO, economic recovery, a dramatic increase in life standard, major reforms in army, justice administration, health, welfare and education system etc. In the end, all their promises were forgotten in favor of political games, inner power struggles and mild and indecisive policies. Though they managed to end the international isolation of Croatia, end the economic crisis (which really ended by itself, but what the hell) and bring the much-desired democracy and media freedom, their four-year rule was, more or less, a failure.
Croatian Party of Rights - HSP - This party originally started as an extreme-right, militant, neofascist movement, whose members dressed in black shirts and suits, nostalgically remembered the Independant Republic of Croatia (a Nazi puppet state established 1941) and threatened death to all those who would even hint at the possibility of peace with Serbia or cooperation with the Hague Tribunal. After their poor performance on 2000 parliamentary elections, they reformed their programme, disowned the ustashe (pro-Nazi) legacy and changed their views around by 180°. They are now a pro-European, pro-democratic nationalist party with some very good programmes for economy.
Croatian National Party - HNS - This is the most democratic and progressive party in Croatia. Led by two extremely competent politicians (Radimir Cacic, a successful businessmen and a very capable minister in the 2000-2003 coalition government, and Vesna Pusic, a woman who is, IMHO, one of the best politicians Croatia has ever had) who aren't afraid to state certain unpopular truths about the Homeland War that the rest of Croatia would rather ignore, HNS is a party with ability, vision and political will to shape Croatia into a rich, prosperous country, ready to join the European Union as a cosmopolitan, democratic country, unburdened by its ultranationalist legacy. Now, if only the voters would see that...
Croatian Peasant Party - HSS - This party (also part of the 2000-2003 coalition) is full of contradictions. On one hand they are pro-European - on the other hand, their programme puts heavy emphasis on nationalism. On one hand their goal is to build strong, free, economically viable agriculture - on the other hand, they want the state to keep servicing the debts of combinates (unprofitable state-owned mastodonts created by the communists during the 50ies - economists generally consider the combinates the worst thing that has ever happened to Croatian peasants). Their autocratic leader, Zlatko Tomcic (president of parliament from 2000-2003), accepts nothing but unquestioning obedience from other members.
Croatian Social-Liberal Party - HSLS - HSLS is the first party of the modern, post communist Croatia. They used to be the second strongest Croatian party until 1996, when HDZ-controlled intelligence agencies organized and carried out an illegal "Operation Fox" which resulted in HSLS splitting into two parties - HSLS and LS (Liberal Party). Though weakened by the division, HSLS still remained a formidable force on the political scene, and was part of the coalition that won the 2000 elections. After 2000, however, the inconsistent and irresponsible policies of the party's founder and president Drazen Budisa caused the party to leave the government, forsake its social-liberal policies and turn sharply right. Discontented with such developments, some prominent members left HSLS, remained in the government and founded their own party, Libra, in 2002. HSLS is now a minor and insignificant party, with but a fraction of its former influence and power. It is presently led by Ivan Cehov, who seeks to bring the party back to its liberal roots and possibly reunite it with LS and Libra.
Liberal Party - LS - Created in 1996 after the secession from HSLS, this moderately liberal party was led by late Vlado Gotovac, one of the most competent, moral, uncompromising and eloquent politicians Croatia has ever had. He was succeeded by Ivo Banac, a reputable historian, intellectual and an uncompromising democrat. LS is a relatively minor party, though it is presently the strongest liberal party in Croatia. It also participated in forming of the 2000-2003 coalition government.
Libra - Libra is yet another bastard off-spring of HSLS. It is comprised of the more pragmatic HSLS members, who were also ministers in Racan's coalition government, and chose to trade their HSLS membership for retaining their positions in the government. They are now really, really minor.
Croatian Party of Pensioners - HSU - This party, funded in 2003, managed to build a huge voters' base in an incredibly short amount of time. With its several seats in the parliament, this party has an agreement with HDZ - to support the government decisions in exchange for higher retirement pensions and more rights for retired people (who live on the verge of poverty in Croatia).
Democratic Centre - DC - In months following the defeat of HDZ on elections in 2000, certain more democratic members of HDZ left the party to form DC - the first truly moderate party in Croatia. Led by two very apt demagogues, Mate Granic (minister of external affairs in the 90ies) and Vesna Skare-Ozbolt (a close associate of the late president Tudjman, who talks sweet, but I wouldn't trust her as far as I could throw her), they managed to slither their way into a coalition with the new and reformed HDZ. Fortunately, their poor results in the 2003 elections meant they could only get one ministry in the new government - enter Vesna Skare-Ozbolt, new minister of justice, even more incompetent than her predecessors (if that's even possible). First thing the bitch did once she got her precious seat was goad USKOK (Association for Repelling Corruption and Organized Crime - a meek Croatian version of FBI and Scotland Yard) into arresting her party colleague Mate Granic for alleged stock malversations. Granic was released for lack of evidence. Offended, he left DC and now seeks revenge.
Croatian Sincere Renaissance - HIP & Croatian Block - HB - These two parties are led by Miroslav Tudjman, son of the late president, once the leading person of Croatian intelligence agencies (= tyrant and spy), and Ivic Pasalic, former Tudjman's advisor and second most powerful man in the country, who amassed so much wealth during his time at the late president's side that his picture should be printed in the dictionary next to the word "corruption" (he was kicked out of HDZ in 2001 because of his notorious reputation and extremist views). These two authoritarian scumbags are leaders of two most nationalist adn right-wing parties in Croatia, so it's only natural they would form a coalition. Over the past few years, they made numerous attempts to incite public unrest and overthrow the legitimately elected government. Due to their total lack of credibility, they never managed to move the masses enough to stage an uprising... or even a small protest.
Histrian Democratic Assembly - IDS - Though IDS started as a regional party, with their advanced, democratic, pro-European views they managed to amass enough nation-wide support to enter the government in 2000, as part of SDP's coalition. Disagreements within the coalition, however, caused them to leave in 2002. Now they've been somewhat minorized on national scale, though in Histria they still remain unchallenged.
There, those were our most important parties. We have plenty others - the socialists, the Nazis, the monarchists... - but it would take days to list them all.
