Croatia's ruling party, the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) has nominated deputy prime minister Jadranka Kosor as its presidential candidate, prime minister Ivo Sanader said Sunday. "We are certain that Jadranka Kosor will win the elections and will do everything to see that happen," Sanader, who is also HDZ party leader, said. Sanader also announced that the next presidential elections will take place this December 21. Kosor is to run against current president Stipe Mesic, who has been in office since early 2000 and who will seek a second tern. Kosor, a former journalist, faces a difficult task in the run against Mesic, a non-party politician and pro-European centrist seen as a man with the common touch, highly popular in Croatia and a firm favourite to win. Kosoris is known as the "good mamma" of the nation, owing to her interest in helping the less fortunate in Croatian society. --SP 2328 Local Time 2028 GMT
