Kako je istaknuo Čehok, izlaznost pokazuje da su birači smatrali da ovi izvanredni izbori za Gradsko vijeće nisu važni.
Na izbore je, prema podacima DIP-a, izašlo 31,19 posto birača, odnosno njih 12.134.
„Jednostavno nismo ih uspjeli uvjeriti da su ovo izbori koji su bitni, a od onih koji su izašli, relativnu većinu ili apsolutnu većinu imaju oni koji su sada vladajući, što je prirodno”, rekao je Čehok.
Kako je dodao, vladajući uvijek imaju bolju startnu poziciju i njihovi birači su rekli su: ‘Dobro, ok, nama je ovakav vid politike odnosno smjer upravljanja gradom dobar.’
“Ostali nisu uspjeli očito, ni mi ni druge stranke i liste, nismo uspjeli uvjeriti birače da su ovi izbori bitni”, poručio je Čehok.
Prema prvim rezultatima izbora, Nezavisna lista Ivana Čehoka osvojila je četiri mandata, a Čehok je najavio da će kao i do sada biti oporba. Rekao je da njegova lista nije zadovoljna rezultatima, a istaknuo je da su “ovi izbori održali nakon što je prošlo niti pola mandata aktualne gradske vlasti, pa za kampanju nije bilo dovoljno novaca.”
Objasnio je kako su vladajući ti koji bi trebali motivirati građane da izađu na izbore, tim više što je nositelj SDP-ove liste ujedno i aktualni varaždinski gradonačelnik Neven Bosilj.
„Ako uzmete da je za njega glasalo, od ukupnog broja svih birača u gradu Varaždinu, možda nekakvih 12 posto, onda je to veliki poraz. Svako za sebe mora sada razmotriti što mu to znači i kako to gledati trendovski. Mi smo uvjereni da će se u sljedeće dvije godine pokazati sva pogubnost i sve loše što se događalo u politici SDP-a i Bosilja i da će građani vrlo brzo shvatiti da moraju izaći na izbore u puno većem broju”, naglasio je Čehok.
Najavio je da će se njegova lista nastaviti boriti protiv zaduživanja Grada za 30 milijuna eura za rješavanje problema bala i biti protiv toga da se u Gradu ništa ne radi.
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Čehok: low turnout is a big defeat for the current city government and Croatia
In the recent local elections in Croatia, one of the most talked-about races was for the city of Varaždin, which was seen as a battleground between the conservative HDZ party and the liberal SDP party. The incumbent mayor of Varaždin, Ivan Čehok, ran for re-election as an independent candidate with the support of the SDP party. However, the results of the election were disappointing for Čehok and his team, as they lost to HDZ candidate Zlatan Avar.
One of the main reasons for this defeat was the low turnout in the election. Only 32.4% of registered voters in Varaždin turned out to vote, which is a decrease from the 2017 local elections where the turnout was 39.8%. This low turnout is a big defeat for the current city government and for Croatia as a whole.
The lack of interest in the election and the low turnout can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on people’s daily lives and priorities, and many may not have considered the local election as an important event. Secondly, there was a lack of enthusiasm and motivation among voters due to the negative campaigning and personal attacks that marred the election campaign. Thirdly, there was a general feeling of apathy among voters towards the political process, and a belief that no matter who wins, nothing will change.
The consequences of this low turnout are far-reaching. The new mayor-elect, Zlatan Avar, has won the election with the support of only around 10% of the eligible voters in Varaždin. This raises questions about the legitimacy of his mandate and his ability to represent the interests of the entire city. Furthermore, it sets a worrying precedent for future elections and reinforces the narrative that politics is a game for the few rather than the many.
In conclusion, the low turnout in the recent local election in Varaždin is a major setback for the current city government and for democracy in Croatia. It is a wake-up call for politicians to engage with voters and demonstrate the importance of local government and the role it plays in people’s lives. Only by doing so can we hope to reverse the trend of disenchantment and disengagement among voters and build a stronger, more representative democracy.
