(11 Dec 1999) English/Nat
Croatian President Franjo Tudjman has died at the age of 77.
The death of the former communist general who led Croatia through the tumultuous breakup of Yugoslavia with a nationalist fervor that contributed to the war in Bosnia was announced on Saturday.
For some Croats, it's the end of the world - for others, President Franjo Tudjman's death means the start of a better future.
But most share a feeling of anxiety about the uncertainty of the post-Tudjman era.
Flags were lowered to half-mast, and all cultural, sporting and entertainment events have been cancelled for a three-day mourning period.
President Franjo Tudjman led Croatia to independence from Yugoslavia in 1991.
For many, he became the very symbol of Croatia.
His word was law, and he designated no successor - he nurtured the image that there was no Croatia without Tudjman.
And it was a Croatia which often bent to Tudjman's iron will.
Croats already have been living without Tudjman since his November 1 hospitalisation.
He was effectively stripped of his powers on November 26, when Constitutional Court declared him temporarily unfit to rule - something inconceivable just two months before.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"The post-Tudjman era has already begun. I will be rather optimistic about Croatia's future. We will be in a position to get a new government, a new President - less charismatic ones, but more open to the West, to human rights and human liberties, to market economies. So all in all I will say the unfortunate death of Tudjman is good political news for Croatia."
SUPER CAPTION: Doctor Flaven Letica, Political Analyst
Parliament Speaker Vlatko Pavletic now wields Tudjman's authority, and new presidential elections are to be held within 60 days - soon after January 3 parliamentary elections.
Those parliamentary elections may be even more crucial than who succeeds Tudjman, considering that the next president may not wield his power.
Both the opposition and some senior members of Tudjman's party favour a reduction of presidential authority and increasing parliament's.
Depending on those two elections, Croatia will either continue on the path of Tudjman's brand of conservatism and nationalism, or it could finally move closer to European-style democracy.
Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
