ZAGREB, March 9, 2019 - The president of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Davor Bernardić, in Požega on Saturday commented on the decision by the Roman Catholic Church in the Austrian federal state of Carinthia to withhold permission for this year's memorial mass at Loibach, a field near Bleiburg, saying that the time had come for Croatia to ban fascist symbols, recalling that Austria, regardless of the right-wing and conservative government, had banned the display of fascist symbols and the use of Holy Mass for political purposes.

"The time has come for those who lead the Croatian government to raise awareness about that issue and ban those symbols and for Croatia to finally turn to the future. But to do so, it first must cut all ties with ghosts of the past once and for all and ban the use of fascist symbols," Bernardić said.

The commemoration in Bleiburg is being exploited for political purposes and you can see there uniforms for failed fascists, Nazi and Ustasha regimes under whose insignia millions of people were killed.

The Roman Catholic Church in the Austrian federal state of Carinthia has turned down a request by the Croatian Bishops Conference (HBK) to hold a mass at Loibach, a field near Bleiburg because the event is used for political purposes, the local church said on Friday.

The Bleiburg commemorations are held in tribute to tens of thousands of Croatian civilians and soldiers of the defeated Nazi-allied Independent State of Croatia who surrendered to allied forces there in May 1945, but were handed over by British troops to Yugoslav forces. Many were executed on the spot, while many perished during so-called death marches back to Yugoslavia.

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

ZAGREB, January 20, 2019 - Social Democratic Party (SDP) leader Davor Bernardić said on Saturday that the opposition party was ready for the European Parliament elections, which will be held in May, and for early parliamentary elections if they are called.

Bernardić said that the current makeup of the government did not mirror the will of citizens and insisted that the makeup of the Croatian parliament was made up based on "a political corruption".

"The SDP is ready any time to take over responsibility and pull Croatia from this morass of political corruption, clientelism, sinecurism and crime. We have been able to save Croatia two times so far, and we are also now able to do that," Bernardić said at a meeting of SDP women’s forum in Zagreb.

During this meeting he said that his party would table its proposal of the new abortion legislation, suitable for the 21st century.

Termination of pregnancy should be available and free of charge to all women, he said in that context.

As for the recent incident in Vukovar in which a Serb teenage boy was assaulted at a bus station and reporters' question if the incident could be connected with Vukovar Mayor Ivan Penava's statements and video footage of Serb students refusing to stand for the Croatian anthem, Bernardić said that in Croatia hatred against others was again being spread, and that hatred against others, based on their ethnicity, had recurred.

He thinks that it is high time for HDZ leader and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković to opt either for Penava or for the Croatian Serb leader Milorad Pupovac whose Independent Democratic Serb Party (SDSS) is a part of the ruling coalition.

Bernardić ruled out any possibility for the SDP to support the incumbent President Kolinda Grabar Kitarović's candidacy for her second term.

The speculations about the SDP backing of Grabar-Kitarović's decision to rerun for the presidency have appeared since both the HDZ and the SDP members of the parliamentary Domestic Policy and National Security Committee voted for the committee's conclusion that the Security and Intelligence Agency (SOA) made no wrongdoings in the treatment of former presidential advisor Mate Radeljić.

The committee chairman Ranko Ostojić of the SDP said then that the Radeljić case was over for the committee.

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

ZAGREB, January 6, 2019 - Social Democratic Party (SDP) president Davor Bernardić on Sunday extended Christmas greetings to Orthodox believers in Croatia, but criticised those in power for "having their picture taken" while Serbs in remote parts of the country live without electricity, alone, hungry and poor, which is "unacceptable" in the 21st century.

Speaking to reporters at the Serb National Council's reception for Orthodox Christmas, Bernardić said some political parties and individuals were trying to divide people also on ethnic grounds. "That's unacceptable in the 21st century. The SDP has always been a party breaking down prejudices in our society and barriers between people, whether they are Croats or Serbs, men or women, gay or straight, Muslim, Catholic or Orthodox."

"That's why today it's important to send the strong message that in remote parts of Croatia, those mostly populated by Serbs, there are still areas without electricity, there are elderly people who are hungry, poor, alone... while those in power are having their picture taken here. That's unacceptable in the 21st century," said Bernardić.

Reporters asked him to comment on a document which the US administration sent Croatia warning it that the US would not service F-16 fighter jets if Croatia bought them from Israel. He said this was "a big international disgrace for Croatia" and that someone would have to be held accountable, whether Prime Minister Andrej Plenković or Defence Minister Damir Krstičević. He said it was unacceptable that there were so many scandals and that nothing was being done about it.

As for MPs who left their own parties to join the party of Zagreb Mayor Milan Bandić, Bernardić said it represented a deception of citizens who were increasingly losing confidence in state institutions and emigrating. "The most just thing to do in this situation would be to go to the polls."

He recalled that one of Bandić's MPs recently said that "the first requirement for joining (Bandić's party) is to support Andrej Plenković," adding that this showed "how Bandić is using dirty dealings to secure the majority for Plenković." Bernardić said this was unacceptable and should be looked into by the prosecution authorities.

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

ZAGREB, December 30, 2018 - Social Democratic Party (SDP) leader Davor Bernardić criticised on Saturday the government's treatment of workers in the shipbuilding industry.

"The announcement of bankruptcy proceedings in the 3. Maj shipyard is the worst possible New Year's message from the government," Bernardić said at a meeting with SDP members in Novska.

The Financial Agency (FINA) has filed a request with the Rijeka Commercial Court to launch bankruptcy proceedings in the Rijeka-based shipyard, which is part of the Uljanik shipbuilding group, after its account was blocked for 120 days due to unsettled claims amounting to slightly more than 72 million kuna.

Union representatives at 3. Maj have said that bankruptcy is not an acceptable option and that a sustainable solution should be sought for the shipyard instead. They also believe that 3. Maj is not responsible for its current situation and that its current situation is due to 3. Maj having lent more than 523 million kuna to the Pula-based Uljanik, the other shipyard in the Uljanik shipbuilding group.

Bernardić said the government had been avoiding dealing with the Uljanik situation for a year and that he believed this was so because it was in somebody's interest.

"Maybe someone has their eye on the land (shipyard premises) in Pula. It is clear to everyone that the bankruptcy of 3. Maj will pave the way for the bankruptcy and liquidation of Uljanik itself," Bernardić said.

More news on the situation in Uljanik can be found in our Business section.

ZAGREB, December 16, 2018 – Croatian SDP (Social Democratic Party) leader Davor Bernardić, speaking at this year's last meeting of the party's main committee on Saturday, said that the purpose of the SDP's existence was to reduce social inequalities and combat injustice and discrimination.

He said that the situation in the SDP was not as gloomy as being portrayed by the media, after several lawmakers left this largest opposition party.

"Never in its history has parliament reflected the will of the citizens less than today. As many as 28 MPs have changed their political ideas and their party colours, completely negating the will of the citizens who elected them. Traitors and defectors from all parties, including those from the SDP, tried to fool the citizens with their inept spins, while only proving that they never cared about the SDP and social democracy. Those servants of the ruling HDZ showed their true colours and now it's quite clear why those same people tried to topple me and the SDP. Despite the attempts being made through the media to create an impression of gloom and doom, new people are joining us every day," Bernardić said.

He said that people were emigrating from Croatia not only because of low wages, but also because they cannot stand injustices and have no trust in the state institutions. "People have no trust in the institutions that are supposed to protect them against violence and crime, and are disillusioned. Thugs are walking the streets freely, acquitted by courts, while the country is sinking in scandals and the State Attorney is doing nothing."

"Love for Croatia is shown not by waving flags and denying truth and reality, but by showing our readiness to get out of the comfort zone, rise against injustice, fight for what we believe in and change the laws so that they protect personal freedoms, the rights of minorities and women, the rights of others and those who are different. We should believe in what we do, because as long as we believe in ourselves, people will not lose confidence in us and will not lose the faith that Croatia can be different. It's all up to us," the SDP leader concluded.

The main committee adopted the party's financial plan for 2019 and discussed preparations for next year's European Parliament election, policies for higher wages and pensions and health policy.

The meeting was not attended by deputy leaders Zlatko Komadina and Rajko Ostojić and most of the members of the SDP presidency.

More news on the dismal state of affairs in SDP can be found in our Politics section.

ZAGREB, November 25, 2018 - Social Democratic Party (SDP) leader Davor Bernardić commented on Saturday on the Crobarometar survey by the IPSOS agency, published on Friday, which shows a drop in voter support for the party to 14.6%, telling reporters that they should not worry about the SDP because it would achieve a European elections success.

Bernardić made the statement while attending a convention of the SDP Women's Forum and after he and Women's Forum representatives released black balloons into the sky to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, November 25.

When asked by reporters if the black balloons also signified the SDP's rating, he said: "I cannot comment on the party's rating at a moment when we are marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Do not worry about the SDP, the SDP works and will have good results in elections for the European Parliament."

"Two surveys were published yesterday and they show diametrically opposed results, which is a bit weird. European elections will be the best test. As for the drop in party ratings, we definitely could have done without MPs crossing the floor to join the parliamentary majority, without those who support the 'For the homeland ready' Ustasha salute, and without frequent attempts at intraparty coups, but rest assured, we will put things in order," he said.

Asked if he was considering stepping down since voter support for his party had dropped to below 15% and the Živi Zid party enjoyed voter support that was only 1% below the SDP's rating, Bernardić said that the party was "entirely focused on elections for the European Parliament and on wage and pension growth in Croatia."

Asked if he expected the party membership to again launch a procedure to replace him, he said, "We mustn't let anything take us by surprise."

According to the latest Crobarometar survey, the HDZ enjoys the support of 29.3% of voters, the SDP enjoys 14.6% support, the Živi Zid 13.5% support, and the MOST party is supported by 6% of the electorate.

SDP Presidency member Ivo Jelušić, Social Democrat member of the European Parliament Biljana Borzan, SDP MP Sabina Glasovac, and former SDP official Željka Antunović, who attended the convention, were also asked to comment on the latest party ratings, and they all expressed concern.

"The party president is referring to a survey which shows that we enjoy 19% voter support but I believe that the SDP can't be satisfied with either 15% or 19%. The SDP wants to assume responsibility to lead the country and those percentages are far from enabling us to move towards a better, more just and socially more sensitive society. If we want to settle for the opposition, that's fine, but I don't think that should be the reason for political activism and that a good part of Croatia, 71% of people, think the country is moving in the wrong direction. We owe them a solution and an alternative, and that requires support much stronger than just 15% or 19%," said Glasovac.

For more on the turmoil in SDP, click here.

ZAGREB, November 10, 2018 - Social Democratic Party (SDP) leader Davor Bernardić commented on Saturday on the 2018 budget revision, the 2019 budget proposal and the set of nine tax bills announced by Finance Minister Zdravko Marić on Friday, saying that all this showed that Croatia would continue to stagnate and there would be no reforms.

"This is just patching up holes and uncontrollable spending of money to buy votes and coalition partners, which is proved by the planned increase in expenditure of as much as 8.6 billion kuna in one year alone and the fact that expenditure will overshoot 140 billion kuna," Bernardić said in a statement.

Bernardić said that the draft of the new budget was based on a tax reform that "actually isn't a reform at all." He said that all along the government had been speaking of "tax relief" while now it projected the 2019 budget revenue from taxes at over 3 billion kuna more. "What kind of reform is that and what kind of tax relief?" he wondered, noting that the currently strongest sector, tourism, was saddled with a burden of four or five new levies. "Instead of reforming the healthcare sector, the government is patching up a hole by reducing some of the contributions while at the same time increasing the healthcare contribution."

Instead of easing the tax burden on salaries for most workers, the government has decided to increase salaries only for the 20,000 richest people in the country, namely those with monthly salaries exceeding 18,000 kuna, the SDP leader said, noting that even the Croatian Employers Association (HUP) had denied the government's claim that salaries for IT employees would grow.

"That's why we in the SDP have proposed increasing the non-taxable portion of salaries from 3,800 to 5,000 kuna so that wages for 600,000 workers would increase by 300-500 kuna monthly or 4,000 to 6,000 annually," he said.

Bernardić welcomed the government's move to increase the amount of non-taxable bonuses to 7,500 kuna, but noted that the government had actually not renounced anything in favour of workers but had left it to the discretion of employers, "so it is a big question how many of them will decide to increase bonuses for their workers."

He accused the government of exaggerating figures about the absorption of EU funds. "Today, after five and a half years of EU membership, we have actually absorbed only 14 percent of nearly 11 billion euro placed at our disposal by the EU. This is also one of the reasons why we are stagnating in relation to other EU members."

Bernardić said that all the budget projections would not be enough to stop people from leaving Croatia and resolve the problem of labour shortages. He also pointed out that the government had not specified what reforms it intended to implement next year and how the country would move up in competitiveness rankings.

For more on the events in SDP, click here.

ZAGREB, October 28, 2018 - Social Democratic Party (SDP) vice president Zlatko Komadina said on Saturday this opposition party "doesn't have much time to improve its rating" and that he did not arrange with Ranko Ostojić the demand for a vote of no confidence in president Davor Bernardić.

"We must go back to 20% and we will, and if that calls for personnel changes, they will be made," he told reporters after a Main Committee session, referring to the SDP's public opinion rating.

As for Bernardić's stepping down, Komadina said there was always time for that but "there's not much time to improve our rating." He added that "everyone responsible should think of the party first and not of themselves."

Asked which public opinion rating would sound the alarm, he said that would happen when a majority felt the president should step down. "If a majority of people think he should step down, I believe a reasonable president will step down," he said, adding that he was against putchism, but that the motion for a no-confidence vote was "lege artis as it was made at the party's bodies."

As for rumours that he and SDP members from Primorje-Gorski Kotar County thwarted a deal to oust Bernardić, Komadina said he did not instruct anyone how to vote on the motion to put on the agenda of today's Main Committee session a vote of no confidence in the president.

He dismissed as irrelevant speculation that he had agreed, in case Bernardić was ousted, to be the party's acting president until an election convention. "There's nothing to agree to. I am the vice president and if the president steps down for whatever reason, under the statute I run the party until elections."

On Saturday, a motion for no confidence vote was unexpectedly put forward during a meeting of the party’s Main Committee, but was not included in the agenda since not enough members present voted for it. Earlier this week, the Commission for Conflict of Interest Prevention also launched proceedings against Bernardić.

ZAGREB, October 27, 2018 - Bernardic survives. An attempt to put on the agenda of Saturday's Social Democratic Party (SDP) Main Committee session a vote of no confidence in president Davor Bernardic failed as there were not enough votes.

Of the 87 Main Committee members, 38 voted for including the item on the agenda. The minimum required is 44 votes.

Including the item on the agenda was moved by Zlatar Mayor Jasenka Augustan Pentek, who told the committee she had 35 signatures for initiating a vote of no confidence in Bernardić and appointing Zlatko Komadina acting president until the party's election convention.

Allegedly, ten SDP Presidency members were for initiating the procedure and Komadina agreed to be acting president until the convention.

Augustan Pentek said after the no-confidence motion failed that "we believed there was a voice of reason in the Main Committee and that everyone sees the situation is not good." She said they wanted to "talk about the problems in the party and offer a solution so as to stabilise the country." She said Bernardic was not the only one to blame for the situation in the party but that he was the president.

Opening today's Main Committee session, Bernardic said he would not allow the scandals in the country to be covered up. He said "people are leaving the country because they've had it with watching the criminal underworld run the country... They are leaving because they see that the political and judicial systems are being massively abused, how corrupt they are, and that attempts are being made to cover up the Borg, text messages and elite prostitution scandals."

"In order to further cover up the scandals, they are willing to scheme with some punks from our ranks to hand over the SDP to the ruling HDZ," Bernardic said. "I won't let them hand us over to the HDZ, I won't let them use their friends' network to sell off the party and the state."

He said the SDP's key task was to restore trust in the authorities and hope among citizens.

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ZAGREB, October 27, 2018 - The Social Democratic Party (SDP) Main Committee's meeting on Saturday was expected to focus on the party's preparations for the European Parliament's election, however, immediately after the introductory address by SDP chief Davor Bernardić, a motion for his resignation was put forward.

Zlatar Mayor Jasenka Augustin Pentek told committee members she had the necessary 35 signatures to recall Bernardić and appoint Zlatko Komadina acting SDP president.

Committee chairman Erik Fabijančić declined to include her proposal in the agenda, but allowed a debate which soon became very heated.

A recess in proceedings is currently underway.