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, July 4, 2019 - The Croatian parliament on Thursday added to its agenda an opposition motion for a vote of no confidence in Public Administration Minister Lovro Kuščević.

The motion was signed by 43 deputies, Speaker Gordan Jandroković said.

The opposition has called for a vote of no confidence in Kuščević "because during his term as the mayor of Nerežišća municipality, and later as minister he has shown that he does not care about public interest and because he has put his private, property-related interests before public interest, abusing his powers to make personal gain worth millions of kuna."

The motion, put forward by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) was supported also by deputies of the Croatian Peasant Party (HSS), the GLAS party, the group of independent members of parliament, SNAGA party MP Goran Aleksić, and MP Ivan Lovrinović of the Let's Change Croatia party.

The government has the duty to state its position on the motion within eight days from its being tabled. A no-confidence motion is voted on seven days from the day of its submission at the earliest and 30 days from its submission at the latest.

After a meeting of the ruling coalition partners - Branko Bačić of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), Milorad Batinić of the Croatian People's Party (HNS) and Milorad Pupovac of the Independent Democratic Serb Party (SDSS) - Pupovac expressed hope that a parliamentary debate on a vote of no confidence in Public Administration Minister Lovro Kuščević, moved by the opposition, would not have to be held.

Speaking to reporters before the meeting, Pupovac said that "someone should leave the government but I hope that won't be the coalition partners."

Pupovac, who is known for choosing his words carefully, thus gave reporters reason to conclude that Kuščević will eventually leave the government before the parliamentary debate and will either resign or be replaced by the prime minister.

"We have just had a meeting of the coalition partners and discussed ways to deal with everything that is behind us and that we are faced with. If people talk, it means that there is some kind of common ground for talks... We had an open and good discussion on how to proceed with regard to all outstanding issues," Pupovac said when asked if the ruling coalition was stable.

Asked who would give in, the HDZ or its coalition partners, Pupovac said, "This is not about giving in but about an agreement on how to function and find a solution."

The HDZ did not speak about Kuščević's political fate, the prime minister is in charge of that and we are agreed that that role belongs to him, he added. "As for the debate on a no-confidence vote in Kuščević, we hope it will not have to be held," he said, adding that "someone should leave the government and I hope that won't be the coalition partners."

Pupovac said that he was not insulted by Kuščević 's statement that a party with 2.5% voter support was not one to decide on the composition of the government, but that that was an insult to common sense.

Asked if his HNS party could leave the government, Batinić said that everything would be communicated to the prime minister, adding "See you next week after the meeting with the prime minister."

Social Democrat Peđa Grbin, whose party on Wednesday filed a motion for a vote of no confidence in Kuščević, said earlier today that the HDZ had assumed responsibility for Kuščević's behaviour.

"The HDZ yesterday supported a common thief thus sending the message that in Croatia it is permitted to steal while holding a public office," said Grbin. "We expect all members of parliament to say 'No' to Lovro Kuščević and to thievery. If the HNS will join in - good, but if not, it will only demonstrate consistency with everything it has been doing in the last two years since it joined this government of crooks," Grbin said.

He noted that many HDZ deputies admitted in private conversations that Kuščević's conduct was unacceptable. "Now they will have a chance to show if they practice what they preach," he added.

More news about the Kuščević affair can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, June 22, 2019 - Zoran Milanović, former prime minister and leader of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the party's candidate for the next President of the Republic, told reporters in Brezovica on Saturday that he had arrived to attend the celebration of Anti-Fascist Struggle Day and to be with his friends and people who cared about anti-fascism.

"I'm here for Anti-Fascist Struggle Day, the only holiday that mentions struggle. I'm here for the tenth time and am pleased. These were our boys and girls in 1941, as were those in 1991. It's quite connected," Milanović said.

"I think very many Croats and citizens of Croatia care about this. This is my return to public life. It so happened that this is my first public event. The first day of the struggle was Monday," Milanović said, referring to June 17 when he formally announced his presidency bid. He said that these would not be to topics on his campaign agenda.

Asked about his chances of winning the presidential race, Milanović said that it would be a competition and the strongest competitor would win. "I believe that Croatia will choose a new policy. This time I'm not entering the race with the burden of being a favourite in the opinion polls, as was the case before, so it's easier for me."

Commenting on the fact that the incumbent President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović was not present at today's ceremony, Milanovic said that as far as he could remember Grabar-Kitarović had never been to Brezovica.

"It's their message and you'll have to ask them. I was surprised, but not negatively, by Prime Minister Andrej Plenković's message of several days ago to the heroes of the (WWII) Battle of Sutjeska, and a government envoy is also here today," Milanović said.

Speaking of his departure from politics after the previous elections, Milanović said that the HDZ had won slightly more votes than the SDP and that he had thought he had no moral right to ask to be a prime minister-designate.

"The SDP was a strong party, and Plenković reduced his party to 22 percent in the last election, but it's their problem," Milanovic said.

As for media reports on Grabar-Kitarović and Plenković as possible candidates for the post of European Commission President, Milanovic said he was not against it. "If either of them can become Commission President, I'm in favour, because in that way they can contribute to Croatia's reputation," he said, noting that the Commission President's job was not to work for their own country but to protect the European treaties.

He said he would like the Croatian candidate to become Secretary of the Council of Europe.

Milanović could not say if he would accept the President's invitation to attend a reception for Statehood Day. "It depends on my obligations and my schedule. But it won't be a celebration, but a cocktail party. A celebration should be a public event."

More news about Zoran Milanović 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, June 20, 2019 - Croatian MEP Biljana Borzan (SDP) has been selected as one of the nine vice-chairs of the European Socialists and Democrats (S&D) group in the European Parliament. "I thank my colleagues and the new chair of the group Iratxe Garcia Perez for their support," Borzan said.

The other vice-chairs of the S&D group include Eric Andrieu (France), Miriam Dalli (Malta), Helene Fritzon (Sweden), Roberto Gualtieri (Italy), Bernd Lange (Germany), Claude Moraes (Great Britain), Kati Piri (the Netherlands) and Rovana Plumb (Romania).

"As I have until now, I will fight for Croatia to have a strong role at the table in European policies. I want the voice of our citizens to be heard when European decisions are made which impact their lives. There must not be big and small, significant and insignificant (countries)," Borzan said.

Earlier this month, Dubravka Šuica (HDZ) was selected as one of the ten vice-chairs of the European People's Party (EPP) group.

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

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 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 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 27, 2019 - 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 Sovereignists, 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.

The latest results show that the HDZ has won 22.71% of the vote, the SDP follows with 18.71%, whereas the Sovereignists' slate led by MEP Ruža Tomašić has mustered 8.51% of the vote.

The slate of Mislav Kolakušić, who is perceived by media as the biggest surprise of these elections, has won 7.89% and is followed by Živi Zid (5.66%) and the Amsterdam Coalition's slate (5.20%) which will be represented by Istrian Democratic Party (IDS) leader Valter Flego.

President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović congratulated all those who have won seats in the European Parliament at Sunday's EU election. "Congratulations to all those who will enter the European Parliament with wishes that on behalf of everyone they fight firmly for Croatian state and national interests and for a Europe of equals, not of those who are large or small but for those who are equal," President Grabar-Kitarović said.

Slightly more than 3.8 million Croatian voters in the country and abroad were eligible to vote in the EP elections to elect 12 Croatian deputies for a five year term.

A total of 396 candidates on 33 slates vied for the 12 seats in the European Parliament allocated to Croatia. Thirty-one slates are party and coalition slates while two are independent slates.

Of the 12 deputies to be elected, 11 will go to Brussels immediately after the elections while the 12th will go after Great Britain leaves the EU.

The elections were monitored by over 4,700 monitors from ten political parties and two nongovernmental organisations.

Only a smaller number of irregularities were reported during the voting process but they did not affect the process, DIP deputy chair Vesna Fabijančić-Križanić said.

The nongovernmental election monitoring organisation GONG stated on Sunday that the voting was proceeding in an orderly manner at polling stations throughout Croatia and that there was a small number of complaints from voters, and the majority of them referred to the breach of the ban of electioneering.

HDZ president Andrej Plenković said on Sunday night, after the State Electoral Commission (DIP) results showed that the party won four seats in the European Parliament, that he was not entirely satisfied because he had expected five seats, for which the party was short of about 1,000 votes, and that this was due to a big dispersion of votes and a big number of slates.

It's a relative victory, we will have four members in the European Parliament as of July 1 and I congratulate them, he said in the party's campaign headquarters.

Plenković said he was pleased with the higher turnout (about 30%) than in previous EP elections (20% in 2013 and 25% in 2014). He said it meant that Croatian voters identified with European topics and saw the EP elections as important for Croatian society.

He said it was important that the HDZ ran in the elections independently. We stand by that decision and I believe it was the right one, he added.

I believe our MEPs will continue to work on the achievement of our European ambitions. This is a very pro-European government, we lead a pro-European HDZ and I'm confident that we will slowly get to the point when voters will see which political forces are dealing seriously with the difficult problems of Croatia's transition, which is what the HDZ-led government is doing, Plenković said.

We will work with dedication, advocating European values in Croatian society as we have done so far, and which is what Croatian deputies will do also in the European Parliament, he added.

More elections news 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.