ZAGREB, June 18, 2019 - Zoran Milanović, the Social Democratic Party's (SDP) candidate for president of the republic, said on Monday he wanted to be the president of a modern, progressive, inquisitive and open Croatia, adding that Croatia was in a "condition that can definitely be fixed" and that, if he succeeded in being a president with character, Croatia would be a country with a position.

"Croatia which in history, whenever it went forward, went forward only as a modern state. It wasn't afraid, it was aware of its tradition, yet was not immersed in it but knew how to swim in it," Milanovic told a press conference.

He thanked his "friends in the SDP who nominated me, but that's not enough." "Without the desire in me, that wouldn't be possible," he said, adding that "this desire exists."

"I want to be president of a modern, progressive, inquisitive and open Croatia. This is a time of change and Croatia is in a condition that definitely can be fixed," Milanović said.

He said he was entering the presidential race as a dark horse. "For the first time, I'm entering a race in which I'm not the approval ratings favourite," he said, adding that "I'm aware that everything depends on me."

Asked what his character was like given that his election slogan is "A president with character", MIilanović said, "I never said I was an honest politician or an honest man, so let people decide what my character is like. Character can also change. My character is something I carry with me. Judge me."

Milanović said he still believed the president should be elected in parliament. "As long as we are a republic, someone must hold that office. I think people too often considered that office bigger than themselves and that often turned into megalomania. That's why I thought something must be changed, regulated differently, that the president should be elected in parliament. But until that changes, it is what it is and that's why I'm running."

Asked whose political support he expected, Milanovic said he had talked with many and that support was welcome. "They say I'm the candidate of the left, but I see myself as the candidate and leader of a modern Croatia, a Croatia which isn't afraid, which is progressive, which doesn't fear those who are different and isn't surrounded by barbed wire, and I will fight for it."

He remarked that "one can lose, but one can't give up." "I'm not alone... but all responsibility is on me."

As for possible support from the People's Party (HNS), which was part of his as well as the incumbent government, he said the HNS went there where it should not have, and that he would try to win over those who were suspicious.

Milanović would not comment on the term of incumbent President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, but said that if he succeeded in being a president with character, Croatia would be a country with a position.

"Not an opinion but a position, which hasn't been the case in recent years," he said, adding that if he became president, "they will treat us with more respect, not because those who are running Croatia don't want that, but because they don't know that."

He went on to say that "my associates will be some people I trust" and that he was proud of the SDP's support.

More news about presidential elections can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, June 18, 2019 - Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said on Monday he expected President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović to run for a second term in office, adding that it was up to her to decide on the timing of her formal announcement for the race and that his HDZ party was waiting for her "with open arms".

"As the HDZ leader I expect President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović to run for a second term and I'm sure we will all support her together. It's up to her to find the right time for announcing her candidacy and I can see that the HDZ is waiting for her with open arms," Plenković said to loud applause at a ceremony marking the 30th anniversary since the foundation of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ).

The chairman of the HDZ parliamentary group, Branko Bačić, told the press after the ceremony that Grabar-Kitarović would announce her presidency bid shortly. "She will announce her candidacy very soon, let's wait for a little while longer," he said.

Bačić denied the existence of documents or material that might compromise the president. Vladimir Šeks, one of the 'oldest' members of the HDZ, said on Sunday that there were "some stories going around about something that might compromise her."

"There are no documents or material that might compromise Grabar-Kitarović. I don't know about them and we in the party don't know about them. The person who said that should explain what this material is about. She certainly has no documents that would in any way compromise her joining the presidential race and her victory," Bačić said.

He said that Grabar-Kitarović's presidential term was excellent and that no statements made "on the eve of the campaign" could foil her victory.

Asked if Zoran Milanović, the presidential candidate of the strongest opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP), could threaten her victory, Bačić said that the HDZ had defeated Milanovic in the last six electoral cycles and he was confident that Grabar-Kitarović would defeat him in the seventh one as well.

"An unsuccessful prime minister cannot be a successful president. Had he been a successful prime minister, he wouldn't have lost to the HDZ in the 2015 election and in the 2016 extraordinary election," he said.

Bačić confirmed that Plenkovic and HDZ secretary-general Gordan Jandroković were in close contact with Grabar-Kitarović and were discussing her candidacy.

More news about presidential elections can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, June 17, 2019 - Former prime minister and one-time leader of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) Zoran Milanović on Monday confirmed that he would run for president of state.

Milanović posted a photograph of himself on his Facebook profile with the logo "A president with character", without any additional comments.

Unofficial sources have said that Milanović would make a public statement later in the day regarding his candidacy.

The SDP's presidency convened in the afternoon and unofficial sources have said that it will make a recommendation to the party's Main Committee that Milanovic runs as the SDP's candidate in the presidential election.

Milanovic led the SDP from 2007 to 2016 and from December 2011 to January 2016 he was the country's prime minister after an SDP-led coalition won at the parliamentary election.

After serving as party leader and prime minister, he dedicated himself to private business.

More news about Zoran Milanović can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, June 16, 2019 - Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović said on Saturday that there was too much talk about elections and election campaigning, while Croatia should be concentrated on vital issues such as creating new jobs, keeping young people in the country and development of Croatian cities.

During her visit to Rijeka on the occasion of the Day of Saint Vitus, the patron saint of that Adriatic seaport, the president was asked by the press whether it would be now an opportune moment for her to announce in her hometown whether she would run for her second term.

Grabar-Kitarović, whose five-year presidential term expires in February 2020, answered "All in good time". "Let me perform my duty. We should not talk about elections six months," the president said.

"I think that we too much talk about elections and election campaigns in Croatia. Let us be focused on the vital issues: creating new jobs, keeping the youth in Croatia, and developing Rijeka and other our cities. If we keep incessantly thinking of campaigns, we do not have enough time to do our job."

The president then extended her best wishes to Rijeka residents for that local holiday, and joined a procession which takes place in the town centre on the occasion of Saint Vitus' Day, celebrated on 15 June.

More news about the elections can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, June 5, 2019 - Prime Minister and Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) leader Andrej Plenković said on Tuesday evening that there were numerous indications that the recent election for the European Parliament had been obstructed within the HDZ.

Speaking to reporters after a session of the HDZ parliamentary group, Plenković said that there were numerous indications of obstruction but he did not give a specific answer when asked if individual HDZ branches would be dissolved because the party fared less well in the election than it had expected. "We will analyse everything in detail and determine measures to consolidate the party and win the next election," he said.

Plenković answered in the negative when asked if at the session of the HDZ parliamentary group he talked with his deputy Milijan Brkić whom he had criticised for not having been sufficiently involved in the recent election campaign. "No, I saw him at today's meeting of representatives of the parliamentary majority. When the time comes and when the analysis is completed, we will talk," said Plenković.

When asked what the head of the HDZ's election campaign, Robert Kopal, was referring to when he said that there had been sabotage in the party just before the EU election, Plenković repeated that the HDZ was not satisfied with the election result as it had expected to win five seats in the European Parliament and that according to all parameters, it should have won those five seats.

Plenković believes that the party's results in a number of counties were below expectations and even below the expectations of the party's county branches. He said that analyses and reports from the field were being gathered and that they would be studied over the next week. After that, party bodies will hold meetings to see if mistakes were made and where, he said.

As for the pension reform, Plenković said that almost all members of the parliamentary majority, including the HDZ parliamentary group, supported the pension reform, stressing that it was one of the incumbent government's most successful reforms that had also helped improve Croatia's credit rating.

"A large majority of members of the parliamentary majority, practically all, including the HDZ group, have supported the pension reform and there are no dilemmas about it," he said when asked if the session of the HDZ parliamentary group had also discussed the pension reform.

Asked what he thought of coalition partner Milorad Pupovac's having voted for the pension reform laws and afterwards signing a union petition for a referendum on the pension reform, Plenković said that he would meet with union representatives for talks and that the pension reform had been prepared for a very long time and very thoroughly as well as that several rounds of consultation on it had been held by the parliamentary majority and among experts.

"What we voted in at the end of last December was based on a firm consensus and full confidence that we are carrying out a good structural reform and support it. There are no dilemmas about that whatsoever," he said.

Asked to comment on demands by the leader of the Labour and Solidarity Party and Zagreb Mayor, Milan Bandić, that he fire Science and Education Minister Blaženka Divjak, Plenković recalled that the government last Friday issued a statement on the financing of textbooks for mandatory and elective subjects.

"As far as we are concerned, the law is clear and internationally assumed obligations are clear. We will find funds in the state budget to finance both groups of textbooks," he said.

As for the demand that Divjak be replaced, Plenković said that the matter would be discussed by the inner circle of representatives of the parliamentary majority.

More HDZ news can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, June 4, 2019 - Croatian Democratic Party (HDZ) deputy leader Milijan Brkić said on Tuesday that he did not want to comment on "ridiculous allegations" by the HDZ's chief analyst, Robert Kopal, that the party's slate for the recent European elections was sabotaged.

"I don't want to comment on those ridiculous accusations. The world has seen many a fake prophet and will see many more. Everything I have to say about politics and the party I say within the party, not through the media," Brkić told reporters outside Government House.

Speaking for the N1 private broadcaster, Kopal claimed that he has proof that the HDZ had been sabotaged at the EU election from within the party, which was why the party achieved a much poorer result than had been expected, winning only four seats in the European Parliament.

"A boycott, in the sense of an independent decision by a voter, is absolutely legitimate. But a situation in which someone organises, advises and motivates is sabotage. I certainly won't go public with any names or conclusions before the party makes its conclusions and takes a stance," Kopal said.

"I'm not pointing the finger at Milijan Brkić or anyone else," Kopal said.

More news about Milijan Brkić can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, June 4, 2019 - Social Democratic Party (SDP) leader Davor Bernardić said on Monday that his party wanted the entire left to unite on the SDP's candidate in the next presidential election, stressing that the recent election for the European Parliament showed that changes could not be effected without the SDP.

In an interview with Croatian Radio, Bernardić said that last week the SDP launched consultations on its candidate for the presidential elections, who is expected to be selected by July 15. The next presidential election is expected to be held by the end of the year.

Bernardić would not say if the candidate would be chosen in intra-party elections as the previous ones nor would he go public with any names.

He just said that possible preliminary elections would be discussed in the case if there were more good candidates and that the party statute made it possible for party supporters to vote for the party's candidate in presidential elections.

"There are two key criteria for the presidential candidate - their readiness to fight and their chances for a victory," Bernardić said, adding that in the recent EU election he saw great strength and potential in the parties that could gather around the SDP, announcing that he would talk to everyone and wished the entire left to unite on the SDP's presidential candidate.

"We are aware that our result alone is not sufficient to effect changes in Croatia but it does restore hope that changes are possible," he said, noting that the SDP's having won four seats in the European Parliament, one more than expected, had restored optimism and trust in the SDP and in social democracy in Croatia.

He said the party's slate included current Social Democrat members of the European Parliament Biljana Borzan and Tonino Picula, who, he said, had fought for equality in the EP, demonstrating their commitment to citizens.

"I believe that the turbulence in the SDP is over. There is a lot of work ahead, already tomorrow we will present our bill for a wage increase under which increasing the non-taxable income from 3,800 to 5,000 kuna would result in a pay rise of between 330 kuna and 500 kuna, which we will discuss in the parliament next week. We will also insist on raising the minimum wage to 4,000 kuna," said Bernardić, announcing that the SDP would soon present its ten-year development plan for the region of Slavonia and a set of anti-corruption laws.

Asked whether an earlier decision to suspend four party presidency members for two years would be reconsidered, Bernardić said that he would like to be a party leader who brings people together but that communication has to go both ways.

"The (EP) election has shown that support for the party's statute is necessary and the suspensions will be discussed by the Main Committee. Making the sanctions less strict requires the good will of the four suspended officials and an awareness that a mistake was made in the process," Bernardić said, adding that he was optimistic regarding the four officials' good will.

More SDP news can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, May 30, 2019 - Istrian Democratic Party (IDS) leader Boris Miletić said in Pula on Thursday that the result of the May 26 election for the European Parliament had shown once again that Istria was open, tolerant and progressive, that radicalism did not enjoy support in Istria and that Istrians looked to the right only when crossing the street.

Addressing a news conference, Miletić thanked all citizens who went to the polls on Sunday, notably those who supported the Amsterdam Coalition and the IDS, as well as all partners.

He stressed that the Amsterdam Coalition slate had won close to 42% of the vote in Istria.

The IDS won five times more votes in Istria than Živi Zid and seven times more votes than the HDZ, while the lead candidate on Amsterdam Coalition slate, Valter Flego, won 19,038 preferential votes, 16 times more than the Social Democrat candidate from Istria, said Miletić.

"The right has grown stronger in Croatia and a new player with extremely radical views has joined the circle of populist politicians. But that is not so in Istria, we have shown that Istria is a world unto itself and different from the rest of Croatia... that it thinks in an open, tolerant and progressive way... thanks to our citizens we have shown that radicalism does not enjoy support in Istria and that Istrians look to the right only when crossing the street," Miletić said, adding that this was the first time the IDS had decided to run in elections at the national level and without a big partner, winning, as a coalition leader, one seat in the European Parliament.

The newly elected member of the European Parliament from the Amsterdam Coalition, Valter Flego, who returned on Wednesday from his first official visit to Brussels since he was elected a member of the European Parliament, said that the first item on his agenda as a MEP would be reaching an agreement on priorities in the EU in the next five years and deciding on partners for negotiations, stressing that extremists, radicals and populists were ruled out.

"In the next five years, ALDE will have 108 members, the highest number ever. We have grown considerably and we are the third force in the European Parliament, with excellent growth trends, unlike the first two groups, the European People's Party and the Socialists, which have lost a large number of deputies compared to the last term," Flego said, adding that his priorities and areas of interest would be regional development, environmental protection, agriculture, industry, research and innovation, and transport and tourism.

More news about elections can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, May 28, 2019 - Mislav Kolakušić, whose is perceived by media as the biggest surprise of the European elections in Croatia on Sunday by winning a seat in the European Parliament, said on Monday he was partially satisfied with the election results, adding that he would run in the next presidential election in Croatia.

Announcing his decision to run for president, Kolakušić called on citizens to go to the polls and thus prevent a minority rule over the majority.

"Those who stayed home and who don't think they need to do their civil duty have enabled this, so that they can whine later. People need to understand that without civil responsibility there can be no civil society," Kolakušić told reporters adding however that turnout was five percent higher than in the last European election five years ago.

He said that Croatia was ruled by "a minority of 30 percent", stressing that people need to develop civil awareness and go to the polls.

Asked how he planned to run the presidential election campaign and sit in the European Parliament, Kolakušić said he would attend parliamentary sessions but his office will prepare materials. He also said he would be an independent MEP as he did not want to take part in adopting decision that are mostly harmful for the Croatian people.

Reporters asked him to comment on his announcement that he would also be Croatia's minister of the interior, justice minister and prime minister, which political analysts say is a characteristic of authoritarian states. Kolakušić said this was nonsense. Adding that ministers were part of the executive government and that they were chosen by the prime minister, namely whoever holds 76 seats in the Croatian Parliament.

Kolakušić said Switzerland, Norway and the Netherlands have a single ministry of justice and the police. Only Croatia has 26 ministries -- 20 real and 6 fake, Kolakušić said.

There is no a single minister in Croatia who can realise their plan without the support of 76 deputies, which is why I need to have 76 hands because I don't want to be summoning ministers and tell them what to do. I will so that myself. I will do the job of the prime minister on a voluntary basis and I will be receiving the salary of the Justice Minister, Kolakušić explained.

I expect to receive citizens' support and in order to change anything I will need 600,000 votes. People will have a do-over at the next presidential election, Kolakušić said.

Asked whether he would be prime minister or president, Kolakušić said in the event of early election, he would be prime minister first.

The ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) and the strongest opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP) have won four seats each out of a total of 12 seats allotted for Croatia in the new European Parliament, according to the reports from the State Election Commission (DIP) after it counted ballots from 99.72% of polling stations when the voting for the EP ended in Croatia on Sunday evening

Thus, the HDZ candidates with the five-year MEP term will be Karlo Ressler, Dubravka Šuica, Tomislav Sokol and Željana Zovko, and the SDP will be represented by Biljana Borzan, Tonino Picula, Predrag Matić and Romana Jerković.

The Sovereigntists, the independent slate led by former judge Mislav Kolakušić, Živi Zid and the seven-party Amsterdam Coalition have each won one seat.

Other slates have not passed the election threshold of 5% of the vote.

More election news can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, May 28, 2019 (Hina) - The Prime Minister and president of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), Andrej Plenković, on Monday evening again commented on the results of the European Parliament election at which his party won four seats in the EP, saying he did not have complaints about the HDZ slate, platform and campaign, that all county and town HDZ branches would analyse the election results by the end of the week and hat this was only one game but that the championship continued.

Asked if the party  would continue to run independently in elections, Plenković said this was the best decision.

Reporters asked Plenković if he would now place a conservative candidate on the slate given that the conservative part of the party had turned their backs to him. Plenković answered in the negative. "This is a fabricated argument," Plenković said.

Asked if in his opinion voters in the elections sent him a message that they do not like the way he was leading the party, given that conservative options received together 18% of votes, Plenković said he was leading the HDZ and the country in the right direction. He also said he did not plan to resign.

The Croatian Democratic Union secretary-general and parliament speaker, Gordan Jandroković, said on Monday that the result which the ruling party scored in the European Parliament election on Sunday was below-than-expected, however, the HDZ was still the first party that won the most ballots.

Coming to a session of the the party leadership in Zagreb, Jandroković said that the party bodies would analyse the outcome of the vote. The HDZ and the strongest opposition party the SDP won four seats each out of a total of 12 seats allotted to Croatia in the European Parliament. The party mustered the support of 22.72% of the vote, and was followed by the SDP with 18.71%.

HDZ won the highest number of votes in Sunday's European Parliament elections in 11 towns whereas the SDP won in the four biggest cities – Zagreb, Split, Rijeka and Osijek. In the capital city of Zagreb, the SDP garnered about 47,700 votes and the HDZ 30,400.

Jandroković said that the poor performance of the party in big cities would be particularly analysed.

Ivana Maletić, an party vice president and a deputy in the outgoing European Parliament, admitted that it was better to record under-performance in the EP elections than in parliamentary elections. She also underscored that the HDZ was "short of only a few ballots" to win a fifth seat in the EP.

Asked by the press whether it was too risky to put a young and not well-known candidate (Karlo Ressler) in first place on the slate, Maletić said that that decision had been very courageous and resolute. She believes that during the campaign Ressler gained publicity. According to the results, Ressler mustered nearly 53,000 preferential votes.

Asked by the press whether the HDZ should form a coalition with right parties, Maletić says that the HDZ definitely had to run in the EP elections on its own and without coalitions.

Some other party officials agreed that the HDZ had expected five seats and that despite the final result, the HDZ was again the strongest political option, mustering the highest number of votes.

More news about HDZ can be found in the Politics section.