ZAGREB, 9 June 2022 - Representatives of the Social Democratic Party, Social Democrats, and the Green-Left Bloc on Thursday talked with the ruling HDZ's whip, and Arsen Bauk of the SDP is confident that both referendum changes and the right to abortion will end up in the Constitution "one way or another."

Speaking after a meeting between HDZ representatives and left MPs on constitutional changes, Bauk said the changes pertaining to referenda would pass, while talks would continue on the other topics.

He said that if their demand that a woman's right to choose to be raised to a constitutional level did not pass in parliament, there would be a referendum on it.

As for the part concerning referenda, most of it coincides with our proposals for changing the Constitution from 2013 and 2018, and potential differences are not such that we could say they pose a big problem, Bauk said.

We expressed our concern about the violation of certain rights and would like to raise them to a constitutional level, and the HDZ took note of it, he added.

Asked if making a women's right to choose the part of the Constitution would be a condition to endorse the HDZ's proposed referendum changes, Bauk said such things should be said at meetings, not via the media.

Social Democrats whip Ivana Posavec Krivec said there was nothing contentious in those changes and that their MPs would take part in the second round of talks in a few days' time.

The Social Democrats have no questions to raise concerning constitutional changes nor conditions, and will support embarking on those changes, she added.

HDZ whip Branko Bačić held separate meetings with the left and right opposition.

Stephen Bartulica of the Homeland Movement said it was necessary to redefine referendum regulations. The approach should be serious and the broadest consensus reached, he added.

The HDZ can count on our constructive approach, but we have not made the final decision, he said, adding that it should be made easier for citizens to organize if they wish to do so.

For more, check out our politics section.