ZAGREB, May 22, 2019 - Speaking at a Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) rally on the campaign trail in Split on Tuesday evening, Prime Minister and party leader Andrej Plenković said that members of the HDZ party were the greatest sovereigntists.

In his speech, Plenković underscored that President Franjo Tuđman, the HDZ and the Croatian people accomplished the Croatian sovereignty in 1990, 1991, 1992 and during the 1991-1995 Homeland Defence War.

He said that the present-day Croatia had been created by Democrat Christians who honoured Christian values.

During the rally which the HDZ held in the second biggest Croatian city ahead of the 26 May elections for the European Parliament, Plenković said that HDZ was aware of the Christian values and Christian roots.

"It is essential given that in the 1950s Democratic-Christian politicians from the family of the European People's Party (EPP) made Europe the greatest peace and development project such as it is nowadays."

He warned that some of the candidates vying for the EP elections are people who would like to dismantle the European project and who believe that someone else would build Pelješac Bridge, roads, railways and reconstruct airports, or build an LNG terminal.

Defence Minister Damir Krstičević said the EP elections would be actually choosing between those who carry out development projects and those who give false promises.

The top candidate of the HDZ slate, Karlo Ressler, said that people should not be deluded by those who offered bleak prospects.

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

ZAGREB, May 21, 2019 - The number of voters in the diaspora registered in the electoral roll and eligible to vote at the European parliamentary election on Sunday, May 26, has increased 42 times or by a mind-boggling 4,244% compared to the European election held in 2014, the Jutarnji List daily reported in its Tuesday edition.

In 2014, there were 3,637 diaspora voters in the electoral roll and now there are 154,358 voters. This enormous increase of eligible diaspora voters is the result of a law on the electoral roll, passed during the term of the Social Democratic Party (SDP)-led government in 2015, the daily reported.

The law, sponsored by the then public administration minister, Arsen Bauk, makes it possible for voters residing abroad to not have to physically register in the electoral roll in diplomatic representations but rather all adult citizens with a valid Citizen's Identification Card are automatically registered.

The electoral roll has to be completed ten days prior to an election, and according to the electoral roll concluded on Friday by incumbent Public Administration Minister Lovro Kuščević, 3,831,389 citizens will be eligible to vote at the EU election on May 26.

Of that number, 154,358 are diaspora voters and 3,677,031 have residence in Croatia and only 13 are citizens of other EU countries who wish to cast their ballot in Croatia. Of the 154,358 voters residing abroad, 144,561 were registered automatically, the ministry explained. Croatian diaspora voters who do not have an ID card showing their address abroad but prove their citizenship with a passport, may vote at Croatian diplomatic missions if they have applied to vote, and 9,547 citizens have done so, the daily said.

The number of voters registered automatically has tripled since the last parliamentary election in 2016 even though the law enabling this had been in force since 2015. The ministry explained, however, that the reason for this was that the possibility of being issued an ID card showing one's residence abroad, entered into force only in mid-2016, the Jutarnji List says.

The daily adds that the increase of 92,681 more voters for the EU parliamentary election (there were 3,738,708 voters in the 2013 election) has caused doubts that the numbers have been manipulated.

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

ZAGREB, May 21, 2019 - Representatives of the European Parliament Office in Croatia and the Zadar-based Europe Direct information centre on Monday held a session of the "This time I'm voting" motivational campaign for Zadar University students, calling on them to vote at the European elections on May 26 because less than 13% of young people had voted at the last EU election.

The head of the EP Office in Croatia, Violeta Simeonova Staničić, underscored that the new European Parliament would not only decide who would lead the European Union but would also distribute its finances and that it was uncertain whether more money would be allocated for cohesion funds, rural development, Erasmus+ or some other projects.

Simeonova Staničić said that there was currently a huge wave of groups and parties in the European Union wishing to enter the European Parliament, use EU funds, enter into the heart of the EU and work on its disintegration and on the destruction of European projects.

Students were informed of the problems currently facing the EU and what possibilities are being offered to Croatia within the EU as well as why it is important to go to the polls on May 26.

A survey conducted by the EP Office in Croatia shows that young Croatians believe that employment and climate change are the most important problems in the EU and they want European solutions to those problems first, she said.

"This time I'm voting" is the European Parliament's institutional, non-partisan communication action, aimed at promoting democratic engagement in the European elections.

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

ZAGREB, May 20, 2019 - Former Greek finance minister and one of the leaders of the Democratic in Europe Movement 2025 (DIEM25), Yanis Varoufakis, called on citizens in Croatia to vote for the political platform Možemo! (We Can!) which runs in the European Parliament election in coalition with the New Left and ORaH parties, We Can! said on Monday.

"Možemo! have adopted this Green New Deal, I think you should read it and I think you should support it. The best way of supporting it in the next few days is by voting for Možemo!," Varoufakis said in a video message.

DIEM25 is running in the European Parliament election with its partners under the motto, "European Spring" in seven countries: Greece, Germany, Denmark, Poland, Spain, France and Portugal. It is led, among others, by Croatian philosopher Srećko Horvat, US linguist and philosopher Noam Chomsky and musician Brian Eno.

We Can! has supported DIEM25's Green New Deal which represents an investment programme for developing a post-fossil economy in Europe, under which 500 billion euro would be annually invested across the EU in renewable energy resources, green industry, construction and infrastructure. Funding would be provided through government bonds that would be guaranteed by the European Central Bank (ECB), We Can! said.

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

ZAGREB, May 20, 2019 - The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has so far spent 2.6 million kuna on campaigning for the European Parliament elections. the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) has spent 1.5 million kuna and the Amsterdam Coalition slightly below 1.2 million kuna, the State Electoral Commission said on its website on Monday.

The maximum amount of campaign spending permitted by law is 4 million kuna.

The Work and Solidarity Party of Zagreb Mayor Milan Bandić has so far spent 960,000 kuna, the Croatian People's Party (HNS) 688,000, MOST 653,000, the Independent Democratic Serb Party (SDSS) 554,000, Živi Zid 316,000, the Reformists 309,000, Pametno 208,000, Independents for Croatia 75,000, We Can! 52,500, SNAGA 42,000, START 27,000 and Croatian Sovereignists 19,500.

Two independent slates, led by Marijana Petir and Mislav Kolakušić, have spent 47,000 kuna and 21,000 kuna respectively.

The HDZ has not received any donations, the SDP has received 26,000 kuna, MOST 21,000 kuna, Živi Zid 20,500 kuna and Bandić's slate 520,000 kuna.

A total of 33 slates, including 31 party slates and two independent slates, and 396 candidates will be vying for 12 Croatian seats in the European Parliament in the May 26 elections.

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

ZAGREB, May 20, 2019 - The opposition MOST party on Sunday held its final rally for next weekend's European Parliament elections under the slogan "A country worth fighting for", saying its candidates would fight in the European Union for Croatian interests and a better life in Croatia.

"Each of our 12 candidates is going to Brussels to fight for their country, their people. While the goal of others is to bow down in order to grab a position, our goal is to proudly and equally represent our people," said party leader Božo Petrov, who also heads the MOST slate for the EP elections.

Twenty-eight years ago, the Croatian people opted in a referendum for a sovereign and independent Croatia, he said, adding that he wants to live in a Croatia it which one does not need party membership, but knowledge and ability.

Noting that many young people were emigrating to Germany and Ireland, Petrov urged people to vote next Sunday "and create an opportunity for a happy, honourable and proud Croatia."

The party's political secretary, Nikola Grmoja, said it was time to openly rebel "against the gilded youth which eats with a golden spoon at our expense." He urged citizens to go to the polls, saying that next Sunday was a chance "to start dethroning the Brussels prince Plenković," referring to Prime Minister Andrej Plenković.

"Croatia is worth fighting for, all of you here are worth fighting for, your families are worth fighting for. So let's do all it takes so that those who will truly fight are elected to the European Parliament."

More news about the MOST party can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, May 19, 2019 - Frans Timmermans, the Party of European Socialists (PES) lead candidate for president of the European Commission, visited Rijeka on Sunday together with Social Democratic Party (SDP) president Davor Bernardić and the SDP candidates for the European Parliament, supporting them in the European elections.

Timmermans, who serves as the Commission's first vice-president and commissioner for better regulation, interinstitutional relations, the rule of law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights, said Rijeka symbolised what Europe should be and that this meant living diversity, leaving historical trauma behind and turning to the future.

Whenever nationalism was dominant, Rijeka suffered, which is why now we should insist on building bridges, friendship and looking for common solutions, he said at a press conference.

Timmermans said the hosts had informed him about the problems of Croatia's Uljanik and 3. Maj shipyards, adding that social democrats had the task of preparing citizens and workers for a new economy in the future. Shipbuilding has a future in the building of sustainable vessels which use less energy as well as in specialisation, he added.

The European Commission will participate in looking for solutions to the problems in shipbuilding and if I'm elected president, rest assured that I'll be on your side, but it's important that shipyards have good managements, such as workers deserve, Timmermans said.

He pushed for higher salaries and better jobs, saying he advocated three measures - that the minimum wage in each member state be at least 60% of the average salary in that country, that multinational companies pay 18% in profit tax in the country they generate it, and that the pay gap between men and women be reduced or eliminated.

Bernardić said Timmermans's remit, the rule of law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights, was important to Croatia. He said it was important that the Commission be headed by a fighter for freedom and equality and against corruption because, he added, in Croatia the corruption perception index was rising and press freedoms were under threat.

Bernardić said the ruling HDZ "and their friends, the European People's Party, with their lead candidate Manfred Weber, failed to salvage Uljanik and 3. Maj, even though they had all the levers of power and the institutions, so it's important that the EC president be a social democrat."

Asked about the possibility of post-election agreements with the EPP and ALDE, Timmermans said the conservatives' basic problems were that they wanted to continue behaving as they had until now, which he said was unacceptable, and their cooperation with the far right.

Now we see, in Austria and Italy, where that leads. We will never cooperate with the far right because our heritage is the struggle against fascism and the struggle of the Partisans, and if elected EC president, I will never seek their support, he said.

Bernardić said Croatia should ban fascist insignia like Austria did.

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

ZAGREB, May 19, 2019 - Addressing the main campaign rally of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) in Zagreb on Saturday evening, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the European People's Party's (EPP) lead candidate for European Commission President, Manfred Weber, said that nationalism was an enemy that wanted to destroy the European Union, whereas patriotism was not against European values.

Our values are that we can be proud of our country - patriotism and the EU do not clash with each other. On the other hand, nationalism is an adversary that wants to destroy Europe and we must say that clearly, said Merkel at the rally which brought together 6,000 HDZ members and supporters in the Dražen Petrović Sports Hall.

Merkel said that the European Union was a project of peace, freedom and prosperity. "We in Germany now have 74 years of peace. You (in Croatia) had a war in the 1990s and you are aware what it means and why it is important to preserve this peace," she said.

And that can be accomplished only if the national cause is advocated on the one hand, while on the other hand we need to be able to put ourselves in other people's shoes and build bridges, the German chancellor said.

She wrapped up her speech in Croatian calling on voters to go to the polls for the EP elections and support the Europe of peace, freedom and prosperity. "Support the EPP and the HDZ, support Manfred Weber and Karlo Ressler," she said. Ressler is the top candidate of the HDZ slate in the 26 May elections for the new EP.

Weber said in his speech that "we love our countries, we are patriots, but we also believe in unity at the European level." Weber called for a response to nationalists and promised that nationalists would not be part of his majority in the future EP.

In his comment on a rally held in Milan earlier on Saturday, at which Matteo Salvini and Marine Le Pen addressed their supporters, Weber said that nationalist ideology in the past had caused a lot of tragedies and should be resisted.

Weber said that the EU was not only an economic alliance but also a community which shares values, underscoring that Christianity is a pillar of Europe. He said that while travelling across Europe he saw diversities of the continent, however he also noticed that in the centre of each town, city or village there was a church which, he added, signifies the Christian faith as a European foundation.

As for illegal migration, Weber said that each country had the right to decide who could pass through its territory and that such a decision should not be made by smugglers.

He also noted that after Athens he visited Zagreb which he described as an obvious and reasonable decision as Croatia was the newest EU member, describing Prime Minister and HDZ leader Andrej Plenković as a close friend.

Weber, who has served as leader of the European People's Party in the European Parliament since 2014 and who is an official of the Christian Social Union in Bavaria, congratulated Croatian football coach Niko Kovač for the success of Bayern Munich which won the Bundesliga championship under his leadership this season.

The HDZ's lead candidate for the European Parliament elections, Karlo Ressler, said he was confident that his party would score yet another convincing victory in the forthcoming elections. "The list of candidates that I lead is an alliance of several generations of the HDZ and several generations of Croatia. But we all work together and breathe as one," Ressler said.

He said that the HDZ's programme was forward-looking, aimed at growth, employment and security, and was promoting a safe and strong Croatia within a strong European Union. He said that young generations in Croatia today had the honour to fight for a better Croatia and prepare it for technological, social and political challenges.

Ressler said that patriotism today was proved with dedicated work and knowledge, citing the construction of the Pelješac Bridge, the construction and reconstruction of over 500 kindergartens, and the creation of over 96,000 jobs in the last three years. "That's what we do today and what we insist on," he said.

At the end, the rally was addressed by Prime Minister and HDZ leader Andrej Plenković. He called on all those present to support Weber as the EPP spitzenkandidat for President of the European Commission.

Plenković also mentioned successes of his government, including the budget surplus, better absorption of EU funding, and EU-funded projects such as the Pelješac Bridge and other infrastructure projects.

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

A fake death notice for famous Croatian football coach Miroslav Blažević appeared on social networks. The unknown author wrote that Blažević passed away on Wednesday, May 15, and that the funeral would be held on Saturday, May 18, at the Mirogoj Cemetery in Zagreb. The death notice lists as bereaved family members the leader of Serbs in Croatia Milorad Pupovac and members of his Independent Democratic Serb Party (SDSS), Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and the Speaker of Croatian Parliament Gordan Jandroković, together with their derogatory “nicknames”, reports Jutarnji List on May 18, 2019.

The death notice was published on the day when SDSS released an ad for the upcoming European Parliament elections in which Blažević appears. "People used to chant about me: ‘Ćiro, you faggot!’ And now I hear you say this about Pupovac. You chanted it to me because you loved me, and I do not know why you are saying that to him. But I know I will support him. Listen to what your Ćiro has to say. All people are equal,” says Blažević in the video. Ćiro is Blažević’s popular nickname.

The legendary football coach, who was the manager of Croatian national team at the 1998 World Cup in France, where Croatia won third place, received the news about his “sudden death” in a coffee shop together with journalist Robert Zuber, who was interviewing him for a new episode of the "Re: vision" show. Jutarnji List and Al Jazeera Balkans produce the show, and the topic of this episode is the European elections.

“During the recording, one acquaintance showed Blažević the death notice, and you could see on his face he did not take it lightly. Still, we continued filming the interview. He said he had nothing to lose and that his honour was untouched,” says Zuber.

Shortly after that, the interview was interrupted again when a passer-by showed Blažević a middle finger, which was probably also a reaction to his support for SDSS. Blažević said he knew the man in question and described him as an “extremist Croat.”

There was another interruption, but this time a more positive one. Ivan Turudić, president of the Zagreb County Court, was passing by the cafe. He saw Blažević and congratulated him on taking part in the ad.

Blažević commented on the death notice. “Son, I am dead, you are talking to a ghost,” he said laughingly and added that he would like to meet the person who made the death notice and squeeze his hand. He said that he was not sorry about the decision to film the video.

“Many people did not understand my message, which is, in the first place, well-intentioned and peaceful. I expected such reactions, but I did it anyway to help the people I love the most – the young Croats for whom I hope this has opened their eyes a bit and taught them that this is the only route towards an easier life for them, but also those people who think they are on the other side,” said Blažević, adding that the message was not understood by extremist Croats, one of whom he once used to be.

In the end, he remarked that he forgave everyone who did not understand his message, including the passer-by who showed him a middle finger.

Translated from Jutarnji List (reported by Matija Boltižar).

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

ZAGREB, May 10, 2019 - Children's ombudswoman Helenca Pirnat Dragičević on Friday called on all Croatian candidates running in the forthcoming European Parliament elections to advocate children's rights in their future work and to formally become child rights champions.

The ombudswoman's office has joined the international campaign "Vote for Children" together with many international organisations for the protection of children's rights and interests, such as Eurochild, Save the Children, Terre des Hommes and UNICEF.

The campaign seeks to ensure that issues of interest to children are given priority in election programmes of future members of the European Parliament, calling on election candidates to become child rights champions. It says that children in Europe and the world are facing numerous threats, such as poverty, social exclusion, discrimination and violence.

About 100 million children live in the European Union today, of whom over 25 million are at risk of poverty and social exclusion. The ombudswoman says that particularly vulnerable are children of migrants and refugees, hundreds of thousands of children are still institutionalised rather than living in a domestic environment, and that children in Europe are also threatened by climate change.

The ombudswoman called on Croatian candidates for members of the European Parliament to help break the cycle of poverty, inequality and conflict for future generations, invest in children inside and outside Europe, listen to children's voices, involve them in decisions affecting them and act on children's views.

More news about children issues in Croatia can be found in the Lifestyle section.