ZAGREB, January 27, 2018 - The leader of the opposition MOST party Božo Petrov said in Split on Saturday that until the next elections his party would put forward bills to discourage young people from emigrating from Croatia.
"We will put forward at least 20 legislative initiatives to encourage businesses to create jobs, give their workers reason to stay in Croatia, help young people to find work more easily and have higher wages," Petrov told the press after a party convention. He said that MOST would also propose bills to streamline public administration and ensure a more transparent judiciary because such changes could contribute to young people staying in Croatia.
Responding to a journalist's remark that such proposals were "a long-term process" and that depopulation was happening now, Petrov said it was import to at least try to stop the emigration of young people.
"If you don't try to stop them and if you only despair, then you can join those who have been leading Croatia for the last 20 years. You have a choice - either you will support what is good and try to move Croatia forward or you will join the ranks of those who have stood idly by for the last 20 years and supported this process. It is in my interest that young people stay in Croatia," Petrov said, forgetting apparently that in the last two years he was part of ruling coalitions twice.
Asked if today's convention marked the beginning of MOST’s election campaign, Petrov said: "This is the beginning of the choice of each citizen whether they want a Croatia of young people or a Croatia from which everyone is leaving. We want to give people a choice, we want to give them reason to stay in Croatia and see that someone is fighting for them."
Petrov would not say whether or not he would run for the next president of the country. The presidential elections are scheduled for late 2019. Although the post is mostly ceremonial, that has not prevented numerous would-be candidates to launch unofficial presidential campaigns two years in advance.
