ZAGREB, 3 February 2021 - The acting director of the Reconstruction Fund, Damir Vanđelić, said on Wednesday that he would not be the Croatian Democratic Union's (HDZ) candidate for Mayor of Zagreb in the coming local elections, stressing that post-earthquake reconstruction was a greater priority.
"I have decided what is a greater priority for the City of Zagreb. The biggest problem currently faced by residents is reconstruction, so my thoughts are focused on reconstruction and I am not thinking about anything else," Vanđelić said in response to questions from reporters after presenting the Fund's activities.
He said that the reconstruction process had the potential to speed up the national economy, adding that the reconstruction was expected to add one percent to the annual GDP growth. "That is very important and I think it is one of the most important things we can do for this city."
Vanđelić said that society lacked unity. "These difficult times require all of us to make extra effort to make it better for people, I don't know when if not now. What we now need is unity and not separation," he stressed.
As for his candidacy for Mayor, he said it was not gentlemanly to discuss private conversations, adding that he would not respond to further questions about his candidacy.
Media have speculated that Vanđelić might be the ruling HDZ's candidate for Mayor of Zagreb in May's local elections. Prime Minister Andrej Plenković has said that the HDZ will decide on its candidates in local elections in the coming weeks.
Jutarnji List daily said on Wednesday that the party's leadership was not inclined to give in to all his demands. The newspaper learned from sources in the party that Vanđelić wanted to enter the mayoral race with free hands, notably to be allowed to pick his future associates by himself and have a final say on any post-election coalitions, ruling out any cooperation with the incumbent Mayor, Milan Bandić.
Citing sources close to Vanđelić, Jutarnji List said that he wanted a completely new policy, wondering if the Zagreb HDZ was capable of delivering that, considering fears that many of local HDZ officials secretly supported Bandić.
