ZAGREB, January 14, 2020 - In an interview with the Croatian Radio national broadcaster on Monday, leader of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) Davor Bernardić said that he was absolutely going to go for the prime minister's office, rejecting the possibility of a grand coalition with the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ).

"I'm absolutely embarking on a fight for the prime minister's office. SDP is preparing for the parliamentary election and we've already formed a campaign team," Bernardić said, rejecting criticism that there is not one woman among the coordinators in the ten electoral constituencies. "Women will, as always, have their deserved place in SDP. I am proud of the statute that we adopted two years ago which ensured full gender parity on election slates - half men and half women. We already applied that model to the European parliamentary election which proved to be more than successful," he said.

He is pleased that according to some public opinion polls, SDP is in first place, but added that the only true opinion poll is an election. Over the past year we have demonstrated how work, unity, abstinence and good quality candidates can achieve an excellent result, he said.

"We recorded two victories in 2019 and now, following the presidential election, we are continuing on our winning streak. It is important to ensure essential changes in the country. Citizens voted for that at the presidential election, with 75% saying they wanted changes. Croatia is at a sort of watershed and I am pleased that citizens have in fact recognised SDP as the party that can reinstate reputation and dignity to Croatian politics," Bernardić underlined.

Bernardić commented on a contentious tweet by Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS) leader Krešo Beljak regarding political murders by the former Yugoslav secret police UDBA. "He apologised for that. He obviously made a mistake and I would leave it at that. Beljak has a peculiar style. However, it's time that as a society and as normal politicians who take account of how the people will live tomorrow, we turn to the future. Sincerely, I'm sick of historical divisions. Enough of returning to the past which divides us as a people and turns our attention away from real problems like emigration, poverty, the poor situation in the health system," he said, adding that downplaying political murders was not good.

Bernardić said that "SDP would certainly lead the winning bloc at the parliamentary election," reiterating that it had established the Anti-corruption Alliance as a platform to fight corruption, which has attracted several opposition parties, and that they will continue negotiations with other parties that share that mindset and which nurture values like anti-fascism and anti-corruption. He believes that the alliance is a good basis for a future coalition, adding that he would talk with others who currently are not part of the alliance.

He said that coalition, however, will not have room for the likes of Mirando Mrsić's Democrats because anyone who left the SDP have picked their path. "We wish them luck. However, we will not discuss any pre-election alliance with them," he said and added there will not be any return of those MPs supporting Zagreb mayor Milan Bandić either.

Any grand coalition with the HDZ, as hinted by Mrsić, is out of the question for Bernardić, who rejected the idea with disgust. Bernardić also does not see a possible coalition with the Croatian People's Party (HNS) because, he underscored, they chose their path in this "grand bartering majority, and good luck to them, but far from us."

Bernardić underscored that Bandić is the HDZ's main coalition partner but that, based on recent statements by Economy Minister Darko Horvat and MEP Tomislav Sokol (HDZ), it's obvious that the relationship has broken down. Bernardić called on Prime Minister Andrej Plenković to call the parliamentary election as soon as possible.

This government has not done anything during its term and I do not expect absolutely anything in the last year either, he said and underlined that it was necessary to call the parliamentary election as soon as possible so that a government led by the SDP can start working on increased wages and pensions, improving the quality of life, restoring citizens' confidence in institutions and a better Croatia in all segments.

Commenting on a fire in a nursing home in Andraševec in which six people lost their lives and a triple murder that occurred in Split over the weekend, Bernardić said that the chaos in institutions was obvious and citizens do not trust the system and are taking matters into their own hands which, he added, should be an alarm for all.

"There's a general atmosphere of mistrust in institutions, the police and the security system of the country, and absolute chaos and disorder is prevailing in the country. The first task for a decent and responsible government is to once again establish order in Croatia and, in addition to restoring citizens' confidence in institutions, that will be one of the main things that we will do when we come into power" SDP's leader said.

More SDP news can be found in the Politics section.

"I'm a little confused here now, my Bero. Zoran Milanovic, president-elect, says Advent is ''pure corruption'' and yet your good friend Bastalec also held a sausage-cottage in the western part of Ban Jelacic square...'' writes Dario Jurican.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 10th of January, 2020, Dario Jurican, a filmmaker and candidate in the recent presidential election who wanted corruption for all, and not just a select few, released an open "love letter" to SDP president Davor Bernardic this morning.

Jurican wrote in the letter that Bernardic's good friend Dalibor Bastalec, secretary general of the Bandic Milan 365 Party of Labour and Solidarity, had an Advent cottage in Zagreb's main square during Advent in his sister's name, and accuses Bernardic of "being surrounded by people from such a milieu for years", ever since Zagreb Mayor Milan Bandic "was a mentor for SDP".

Dario Jurican goes on to tell Bernardic that he can redeem himself by asking Bandic to reopen the beloved Kino Europa, or it will be "over" for him. Milan Bandic is going, and you're going too, warns Jurican, indicating that he's coming for them both.

Here is Dario Jurican's ''love letter'' to Davor Bernardic, transmitted and translated into English in full:

''I'm going to call you Bero straight away. Not because we're friends, but because I've been following your thoughtful work, your craft, for many years now. Bero, I'd like to talk about Advent now, because I've had no peace from it.

We both know that your good friend Dalibor Bastalec, the one you go to the Blaskovec fire department's anniversaries with, and the one who, together with Milan Bandic, you celebrate birthdays with, had a nice little [Advent] cottage in Zagreb's main square at the time of Advent. Of course, this cottage wasn't listed in Dalibor's name, but in his sister's name, but you know full well how it goes, Bero, because you've been surrounded by people from that milieu for years, ever since Milan was your mentor in SDP. The Bastalecs had their sausage-cottage in the same place last year, as well, only the company in the background was different.

Now, I'm a little confused, my Bero. Zoran Milanovic, president-elect, says that Advent is "pure corruption" and yet your good friend Bastalec also had a sausage-cottage in the western part of Ban Jelacic square, intended exclusively for artisans with handicrafts. You, Bero are telling the story of anti-corruption in the media: "The Anti-Corruption Alliance is the need to ensure awareness that in Croatia we must actively fight corruption by all means."

Who are you lying to, Bero?

Or maybe you mean to say that Zoran Milanovic is rhetorically deceiving us? Or your SDP, who asked Bandic for an Advent report at the Zagreb City Assembly?

Now, Bero, there's something I don't understand. You're the president of SDP, and your good friend Dalibor Bastalec is the general secretary of the Bandic Milan 365 Party of Labour and Solidarity. The very same Bandic who doesn't want to give you an Advent report, and president-elect Milanovic calls it a focal point for corruption...

At the same time, Bastalec is the president of the parish pastoral council in the parish of St. Benedict in Blaskovec, for which, so that it's less difficult, Milan Bandic had a car park made and even attended the grand opening of it. He came to the opening of a car park!

As such a distinguished person, your buddy Bastalec also has a considerable tax debt to the Republic of Croatia, of 2,130,210.84 kuna.

I don't care who you plant pumpkins [hang out] with, the emperor of omissions and the king of the status quo, but I have a suggestion for you to redeem yourself:

I want you to go to your friend, Bandic's operative Bastalec, I want you hold his b*lls tightly, so tightly they flood if needs be, and to explain to him that on April the 8th, 1925, as a gift of love from the benefactor Müller, Kino (Cinema) Europa opened on Warsaw street in Zagreb, and that he has to open it again on the 8th of April, 2020. We both know that this cinema was closed without reason by your friend Bandic, without a plan. The cinema is under no renovation process, nor is it scheduled for renovation in 2020.

You will look him straight in the eye, and he'll know what to do.

If Kino Europa doesn't reopen on April the 8th, 2020, for the premiere of one movie, then Bero - it's over.

Milan Bandic is going, and so are you.

Dario Jurican, mayor of the universe.''

Make sure to follow our dedicated lifestyle and politics pages for more on Dario Jurican.

ZAGREB, October 30, 2019 - The Conflict of Interest Commission on Wednesday established that Social Democratic Party (SDP) leader Davor Bernardić had violated the principle of transparent action under the Conflict of Interest Act when he had accepted a scholarship from Zagreb's Cotrugli Business School in 2014.

There are no sanctions for violations of that article of the law.

In October 2018, the Conflict of Interest Commission initiated proceedings against the Opposition leader and member of parliament Davor Bernardić for receiving a scholarship from Zagreb's Cotrugli Business School. The agreement on scholarship also bound Bernardić to have 120 hours of research and scientific activities as well as consulting work and to promote that private school.

At the time when he accepted the scholarship agreement, he was the leader of the SDP branch in Zagreb and a politician, and had stopped pursuing his career of researcher three years before.

In October 2018 the rapporteur on this case, Davorin Ivanjek, said that an anonymous complaint had been filed against Bernardić following media reports that he had completed the Chief Executive MBA program at Cotrugli Business School, which costs some 263,000 kuna (35,500 euros). Bernardić had the program paid for him with a scholarship which, according to the complaint, qualifies as an impermissible gift.

Ivanjek said that it could be concluded from Bernardić's public statements that he had received the scholarship from the private company Cotrugli d.o.o. which owns Cotrugli Business School.

Noting that in this case Bernardić did not receive any money, Ivanjek said that free lectures could be considered a free service which may put an office holder in a dependable position and create an obligation towards the donor.

More news about conflict of interest issues can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, September 7, 2019 - Social Democratic Party (SDP) leader Davor Bernardić said on Saturday that Croatian Serb leader Milorad Pupovac had gone too far in comparing the contemporary Croatia to the 1941-1945 Nazi-allied Independent State of Croatia (NDH) regime, however he holds the current government responsible for "a climate facilitating attacks on those who differ from others".

"It is clear to everyone that Croatia cannot be compared to the NDH," the SDP chief said during his visit to the ongoing international agricultural fair in Bjelovar, about 90 kilometres northeast of Zagreb.

On the other hand, there is a climate suitable for attacks on those who differ from the majority, Bernardić said, blaming it on the current government. In this context he claimed that attacks directed against Serbs had become normal, and also pointed out the tolerated use of the Ustasha salute "For the homeland ready".

Bernardić again wondered why Pupovac was still a member of the ruling coalition.

Media outlets have reported that recent statements made by Pupovac were on the agenda of a three-hour long meeting of the ruling coalition parties in Zagreb on Friday.

Zoran Milanović, the presidential candidate of the SDP party, who toured the fair grounds separately from Bernardić, said in his comment on relations within the ruling coalition, that it was up to the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) to decide whether it would treat Pupovac as a friend or foe.

In 1997, when he voted for constitutional changes, Pupovac was loved by the HDZ more than if he were their brother, said Milanović, a former SDP leader and prime minister.

He, however, would not comment on Pupovac's statements in which he had compared the current Croatia to the NDH regime. "I do not know what exactly Pupovac said. I hope he didn't overreact," Milanović told the press.

As for statements made by another presidential hopeful, Miroslav Škoro, about a possibility to impose a ban on Pupovac's Independent Democratic Serb Party (SDSS), Milanović said that "every political party talks nonsense from time to time. The SDP used to talk nonsense, the HDZ talks nonsense every day. If we start banning parties for that, it will pave the way to tyranny".

Earlier in the day Bernardić said that Škoro's proposal on the possible ban of the SDSS was unacceptable.

More SDP news can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, August 24, 2019 - Commenting on recent attacks on members of the Serb minority, the president of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Davor Bernardić, said on Friday that these attacks were not isolated cases, adding that once the SDP returned to power, these attacks and violence would not be tolerated.

Asked to comment on SDP's position on recent attacks on members of the Serb ethnic minority, the SDP chief said these attacks "are not isolated cases."

"Unfortunately, this was only one (of a number of) attacks on Serbs in Croatia during the rule of the incumbent government, but this comes as no surprise to me, because we have a government that tolerates the use of the Ustasha salute "For the Homeland, Ready!", Bernardić said.

On the other hand, "we have Serb representatives in Croatia who, instead of protecting Croatian Serbs, they are protecting the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), and sit in the same government with them," Bernardić said.

More news about the status of Serbs in Croatia can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, August 13, 2019 - Social Democratic Party (SDP) leader Davor Bernardić said on Tuesday that the failure to call an extraordinary session of the parliament would constitute a gross violation of the Constitution but he would not comment on SDP presidential candidate Zoran Milanovic's position that calling such a session would set a precedent, noting that "everyone is entitled to their opinion".

"The Constitution is clear, it says that an extraordinary parliament session has to be called within 30 days from the submission of such a motion," Bernardić told a news conference.

He would not comment on Milanović's statement given this past weekend that if the president of the republic called a special session of the parliament in response to an Opposition motion for a parliamentary debate on a vote of no confidence in Health Minister Milan Kujundžić, the same thing could happen several times a year, during every summer and winter recess of the parliament.

"As for individual interpretations, everyone is entitled to their opinion but I think that things are pretty clear here. I will not comment on or question positions by individual presidential candidates," said Bernardić.

The Office of the President said in a statement last Friday that with regard to a request sent to her by the opposition Bridge party to call an extraordinary session of the parliament to discuss a vote of no confidence in Minister Kujundžić, she would make a decision on the request if the Constitutional Court ruled that conditions for such a move had been created.

Constitutional Court President Miroslav Šeparović commented on this by saying that the president is not authorised to call on the Constitutional Court to act in line with its powers but that she can, in line with the Constitution, submit a request for an extraordinary parliament session.

MOST party MP Robert Podolnjak then accused Šeparović of having sided with the parliamentary majority and the government by not stating the court's position on the Opposition's motion for a special parliamentary debate on a vote of no confidence in the health minister, thus making it possible for the constitutional deadline of 30 days within which the parliament must discuss such motions, to expire.

More SDP news can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, July 24, 2019 - Social Democratic Party (SDP) president Davor Bernardić said on Tuesday it was necessary to put up bilingual signs in Vukovar as constitutional issues regulating the protection of ethnic minorities must be neither contentious nor questionable for the SDP.

The constitution must be honoured, he said on RTL television when asked how to resolve the situation in the eastern town after the Constitutional Court ruled that the rights of Serbs in Vukovar must be enhanced and the parliamentary committee on ethnic minorities called on the government to put up bilingual signs on state institution buildings there.

Asked if he expected an extraordinary parliamentary sitting on the MOST party's motion for a no-confidence vote in Health Minister Milan Kujundžić, Bernardić said holding the sitting and discussing the motion was a constitutional obligation. He added that the SDP MPs on the parliamentary committee on the constitution had asked the Constitutional Court's opinion on the matter.

If the court does not take a position, we will have to ask the president to convene the sitting, Bernardić said.

Asked if the fact that Prime Minister Andrej Plenković had replaced some ministers whose dismissal the SDP had demanded was the start of a big coalition between the SDP and the ruling HDZ party, he dismissed the possibility.

"There's no coalition with the HDZ, the most corrupt party in Croatia right now. Plenković's government was forced to make the reshuffle. The public sees why the ministers had to go. Only DORH (State Prosecutor's Office), which is doing nothing about it, doesn't see."

Asked whether it would good if the Croatian People's Party, the HDZ's coalition partner, supported the SDP's presidential candidate Zoran Milanović, Bernardić said no one could be stopped from backing Milanović. "But my position is known. There's no cooperation with the party which betrayed its voters... by running into this coalition which exists on political corruption."

He said President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović had not fulfilled her campaign promises.

He also commented on former football mogul Zdravko Mamić's accusations of corruption against Supreme Court president Đuro Sessa, saying they were serious accusations which hit at the foundation of the democratic and judicial order. He called on the authorities to investigate the accusations.

More SDP news can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, July 6, 2019 - Opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP) leader Davor Bernardić said on Saturday that the party's success in the recent EU election would pave the way to its victory in parliamentary elections.

Bernardić was speaking at a session of the SDP Main Committee which was expected to confirm former prime minister and SDP leader Zoran Milanovic's candidacy for President of the Republic.

"The ruling structures must not be corrupt. Corruption is eating away at the Croatian society. Corruption has stolen the future of many young people and the dignity of the elderly," said Bernardic.

"People are leaving the country because of mistrust in state institutions, the inefficiency of state administration and the lack of reforms... We must restore trust in the judiciary and make it more efficient and independent from any form of political or any other influence. We plan to do that with a set of anti-corruption laws because it must not be considered a normal thing for a senior state official to have an expensive Mercedes parked in their front yard or to own luxury villas that they most certainly could not have afforded with their salary," he said.

Bernardić called for stricter public procurement rules, stricter control of declarations of assets, transparent financing of election campaigns, and freeing the Conflict of Interest Commission of pressure of any king, notably political.

SDP has the man who will restore dignity and integrity of institution of president

Bernardić said this was only a small part of what had to be done to restore voters' trust in state institutions.

"One of the more important institutions for Croatian citizens is the president of the state, whose dignity and integrity must be restored and the SDP has the man who can do it and who will win - Zoran Milanovic," Bernardić said.

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

ZAGREB, June 21, 2019 (Hina) - Social Democratic Party (SDP) leader Davor Bernardić said in Brussels that the rule of the European People's Party (EPP) in the European Union should be put to an end.

"Our common conclusion is that the EPP has been leading the European Union for too long without any visible results," Bernardić told reporters after a meeting of the leaders of Social Democratic parties from the EU member states, who traditionally gather before each EU summit.

He said that the European Social Democrats were fighting for a more socially just Europe, higher wages and pensions, greater social cohesion, sustainable development, a greener society and against climate change.

Bernardić said that the European Social Democrats would not give up on their lead candidate for Commission President, Frans Timmermans of the Netherlands.

Commenting on media reports about President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković as possible candidates for European Commission President, the SDP chief said: "If this information is true, then obviously their focus is not on Croatia but on their own careers, and Croatia must not be held hostage to their careers. It would be good if they made up their minds and told the citizens what their plans are, what they are advocating and where they really want to be if they don't want to be in Croatia."

More news about Croatia and the European Union can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, March 17, 2019 - Social Democratic Party (SDP) president Davor Bernardic on Saturday commented on MP Siniša Varga's leaving the party, saying he appreciated people who did not give up, who fought and did not leave the SDP when it got tough.

Varga left the party on Friday, citing the inclusion of Mirela Holy, a former member of the SDP, on the party's slate for May's European Parliament election, and the fiasco at last Sunday's local election in Lika-Senj County as the reasons. He said he would continue as an independent MP.

Responding to questions from the press in Osijek, Bernardić said Varga could thank the SDP for his professional successes, notably in politics, and that he should give his seat in parliament back to the party that had made it possible for him to become an MP.

Bernardić said the SDP's goal was to win three seats in the EP, one more than now, and that he was sure the party would do well in the election.

Asked about the party's poor results at last weekend's local elections in Lika, he said local SDP leaders were responsible.

Asked if a joint commemoration for the victims of the Jasenovac WWII concentration camp was possible this year, Bernardić said he would like "one procession" and that a "joint commemoration is a necessity," but added that the government had missed the chance by "de facto legalising the occasional use of the Ustasha salute 'For the homeland ready'."

He said members of the ethnic minorities that had the most victims in WWII at the hands of the Ustasha, such as the Roma and the Jews, could not walk together with ruling HDZ party members Stevo Culej, Josip Đakić and Milijan Brkić or HDSSB member Branimir Glavaš.

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