Zagreb, September 16, 1999 (IKA) — “The Christmas Season is Not for Elections” is the headline of an editorial in the September 19 issue of the Catholic weekly newspaper Glas Koncila, in which the commentator addressed rumors that the Croatian parliamentary elections may be held during the Christmas season of this year. “Such rumors seem incredible. Whoever the political authorities are, they cannot be indifferent to what the Catholic citizens of this country think about their undertakings. This would be strange and in poor taste in any country with a heritage of the Christian civilization. How could this be an option in Croatia, a country which some of the distinguished politicians would like to consider a Catholic state, although in our age that would be a completely unrealistic and untenable anachronism,” emphasized the commentator. He added that “waging what would undoubtedly be a vehement election campaign during the Christmas holidays would spoil the traditional atmosphere, altering the significance and content of these holy days … What sage politician could assume the responsibility for such insensitivity to the beliefs, feelings and customs of the voters?” asks the commentator, and continues: “Although the Church consciously refuses the role of being a partner of the political authorities, there is no doubt that its impact upon politics cannot be ignored. What can be expected from the leadership of the Catholic Church and other Christian Churches in Croatia if the election campaign and election profoundly alter the customary holiday atmosphere? There may merely be courteous silence, concealing a sense of injury. It appears, nevertheless, that the election organizers are assuming that the holiday atmosphere could be to their benefit, that a Church celebration, albeit indirectly, could influence the voters in a certain direction. Nevertheless, they will certainly be disappointed. Disturbing the Christmas atmosphere could have exactly the opposite effect. Priests, despite the extent of their concern for the election results, would be at least perturbed and rendered passive. Most likely they would not be in a position to perform what should be their duty regarding the election: to urge people to think seriously about the party platforms and the characteristics of the candidates, to urge people not to abstain from voting and to use their right to vote responsibly, because the future of the country and the national community, the realization human and national rights, and the promotion of well-being, greatly depend upon the election results.”
The commentator acknowledges the fact that many Croatian citizens who work and live in foreign countries come home during the Christmas holidays, and would be able to participate in elections held at that time. “We fear that not even this reason is good. The question about election participation by Croatian citizens living in foreign countries should be resolved in a more definite and considered manner, not left to chance,” cautions the commentator in Glas Koncila.
Regarding world reaction to eventual “Christmas elections,” the commentator of the Catholic weekly asserts that it is difficult to believe that holding elections during the Christmas holidays would not have negative repercussions among the world public. “It is likely that the Croatian political leadership would be exposed to deliberate skepticism, blamed for the intentional manipulation of the Christmas season, the religious affinities of the citizens, and eventual clerical influence upon the election results. Croatia does not need such negative advertising. The Church does not wish this on Croatia, although it would not know how to come to Croatia’s defense … While naturally leaving political leaders complete freedom of choice, we take the liberty of predicting that this would be a serious error that would jeopardize the reputation of the Croatian political leadership in the world. It is probably not too late to consider all this calmly and soberly, to avoid undesirable consequences,” states the editorial. The commentator emphasizes that to the extent of his knowledge, nowhere in Christian civilization have the Christmas holidays been used for political elections. The commentator is of the opinion that the campaign should end before the Christmas season and elections should be held in the first half of December. He also feels that holding elections in the first half of January would unduly afflict the Christmas holidays with the tensions and rivalries of politics, “which would adversely affect the appropriate coverage by the mass media of the Christmas events.” The commentator also emphasizes that we have waited too long to celebrate the Christmas holidays in freedom to tolerate an infringement of this freedom “by ill-considered elections … We are permitted to remember that the elections in Croatia will certainly attract a significant number of reporters and official observers from other countries. The majority of these people are accustomed to celebrating Christmas in the circle of their families. Is it possible to imagine that this is one way to assure that their number will be as small as possible, or that there will be unconcealed dissatisfaction at having to sacrifice their personal Christmas festivities?” asks the commentator of the Catholic weekly Glas Koncila, and concludes: “When we take all of the above into consideration, and certainly we would find more reasons, as Catholics and as citizens we must publicly express our desire for those responsible to desist from making a decision with such unpleasant consequences.”