ZAGREB, July 7, 2019 - The main committee of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) on Saturday overwhelmingly supported Zoran Milanović as the party's candidate for President of the Republic, with 70 votes in favour, one against and one abstention.

Milanović is the SDP's presidential candidate and whether he will also be the candidate of some other party, he will have to agree that with them, the committee's chairman Erik Fabijanić told the press after the meeting, explaining the meaning of the wording "support his candidacy".

He could not say with how much money the SDP would support Milanović's campaign, noting that this would be known when the election process and campaign fundraising began.

In addition to financial support, Milanović will also be able to count on the SDP's full logistical support, Fabijanić said.

Responding to questions from the press, he said that Milanović's platform was yet to be discussed. Asked if the main committee knew what they supported given that Milanović's election programme had not been unveiled yet, Fabijanić said: "That's why he only has our support for now."

Fabijanić is widely seen as a critic of Zoran Milanović, as is SDP deputy leader Zlatko Komadina who did not attend the committee meeting.

SDP leader Davor Bernardić later unequivocally confirmed that Milanovic was the SDP's presidential candidate.

Zoran Milanović on Saturday thanked the main committee of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) for confirming him as the party's candidate for President of the Republic, saying that he was counting on them in the fight for "Croatia to become a progressive, modern and open society."

"You have decided, and I'm calling on others who share a vision of such a society to join in. Because if you choose me, even without any promises, Croatia will be a completely normal country," Milanović wrote on his Facebook page.

More news about Zoran Milanović 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.

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ZAGREB, July 2, 2019 - The Social Democratic Party's (SDP) candidate for President and former prime minister, Zoran Milanović, said on Monday that with his "private behaviour" Prime Minister Andrej Plenković was harming Croatia's interests in the EU and would therefore have to explain, upon his return to Croatia, whose interests he defended and promoted in Brussels.

"I still hope Plenković can become the President of the European Commission. Only that can help lessen the damage to Croatia's interests in the EU he has caused with his behaviour," Milanović wrote on his Facebook wall.

Commenting on Plenković's stay in Brussels where talks are underway on a set of appointments of top EU officials, including the presidents of the European Commission, the European Council, the European Parliament and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Milanović said that Croatia's "adhering to the positions of a people's party" was unacceptable.

"And it's also unwise, given that Germany, which is still represented by Angela Merkel, holds a different opinion and supports a nonetheless acceptable Timmermans as head of the European Commission. Plenković continues to support Weber, who is slowly denying himself support," said Milanovic.

He said that because of that, Croatia was at the risk of suffering damage in a potential conflict with the EU's most powerful countries and reputable democracies such as Germany, France, the Netherlands, Spain and others "who are trying to muster a majority for a decision."

"Croatia is siding with a weird minority group that is blocking decision-making; unlike Croatia, those countries are already in both the Schengen and the euro area or are not because they do not want it. Croatia allegedly does," Milanović said.

"In short - when he returns to Croatia, Plenković will have to explain whose interests he defended and promoted in Brussels. His or those of some People's Party members who are worth nothing without the support of Berlin. Not to speak of siding with defective democracies. Croatia must be a western democracy. It must choose who to associate with. Anything else is a road to pitiful Balkan despotism," Milanović wrote on his Facebook wall.

Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) leader Andrej Plenković is protecting national interests and has secured a strong position for Croatia in the EU, the HDZ said on Monday, in a comment on a statement by presidential candidate Zoran Milanović, saying that it was ironical that Milanović, who had "the shameful Lex Perković voted in and caused a conflict with many partners even before Croatia joined the EU", was warning of alleged damage to be suffered by Croatia in the EU.

"Apart from evidently not being familiar with talks that are underway at the European Council, it is ridiculous that of all people, Milanović should be the one to warn of alleged damage to be suffered by Croatia in the EU because he was the one who had the shameful Lex Perković voted in and caused a conflict with many partners, notably Germany, even before Croatia entered the EU," the HDZ said in a post on its Facebook wall.

Germany was one of Croatia's strongest critics when two days before joining the EU on 1 July 2013, during the term of the Milanović government, Croatia amended the European Arrest Warrant law, preventing the extradition of Yugoslav-era intelligence officer Josip Perković for the assassination of Croatian dissident Stjepan Đureković near Munich in 1983.

In August 2016, a Munich court sentenced Perković and another Yugoslav-era Croatian intelligence agent, Zdravko Mustač, to life, finding them responsible for the Đureković murder. The perpetrators remain unknown.

The HDZ stressed that Plenković, unlike Milanović, was protecting national interests and had excellent relations with leaders of key EU countries. "He has also secured a strong position for Croatia in the EU. And the respect Croatia enjoys on the foreign policy front is evidenced by the appointment of Foreign Minister Marija Pejčinović Burić as Secretary-General of the Council of Europe," the HDZ said.

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

ZAGREB, June 30, 2019 - The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Zoran Milanović, said in Supetar on the southern island of Brač on Saturday that the presidential race would be long and tough, adding that he expected that, as the candidate of modern and progressive Croatia, he would enter a second round of voting.

Speaking to the press, Milanović said he had come to Supetar at the invitation of his friends to attend Town Day festivities. He said he was taking the pulse of the people and listening to what people were saying.

Milanović declined to comment on current political affairs, including property-related scandals involving Public Administration Minister Lovro Kuščević, saying that he was not expected to do so under the constitution anyway. However, he said that he would fight for a Croatia free of "thievery and nepotism".

Regarding the possible departure of Prime Minister Andrej Plenković to take the office of European Council president, Milanović said that, unlike his rivals, he was in favour of Croatian people being appointed to senior positions in international organisations abroad because that was good for Croatia.

On the subject of Croatia's relations with Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Milanović said that these were two neighbouring countries and "if they are weak, Croatia can get nothing, but can only lose."

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

ZAGREB, June 24, 2019 - Zoran Milanović who is running in the presidential race on behalf of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), entered the campaign entirely unprepared and did not show any political will or ideas of what he would do as the country's president whereas Miroslav Škoro, very convincingly presented his concept of reforms to the Constitution which would give the president more powers and is perceived by two analysts as a much better candidate for playing play a conciliatory role.

"Zoran Milanović entered the campaign completely unprepared without any new ideas and without any announcements of what his objectives as president would be. Unlike him, Miroslav Škoro very convincingly presented his concept of reforming the Constitution which would strengthen the role of the president," political analyst Davor Gjenero told Hina.

He underscored that the concept of "plebiscitary democracy" that Škoro is offering is de Gaulle's concept of ruling, to which the model of the Constitution of the Fifth French Republic was adapted to and Croatia's Constitution on the most part emerged on the example of that model.

Gjenero briefly commented on Milanović saying that it seems that his candidacy is "a mere attempt to escape from the hard work in the business sector where he didn't achieve any great success."

Analyst Žarko Puhovski agreed with Gjenero saying that Milanović believes that his person and personality are enough of a platform for the presidential race. "The problem is that he is implicitly saying something similar to Škoro because our Constitution does not need a president with a strong personality. Our system requires a president as a mediator and conciliator and that is not a role that can be associated with Zoran Milanović," Puhovski told Hina.

He believes Škoro could have that role because he has shown to be polite and always rejects any radical formations and in that regard he could be a better candidate as a conciliator.

As far as the incumbent president, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović is concerned and her role as a conciliator, Puhovski thinks that she has been wandering - "she was very right and then a little in the centre and now is on the right again." "That is not conciliation. She did not show enough resoluteness. That is why Milanović's motto of a President with Character, is more a polemic with Grabar-Kitarović who did not show sufficient character," Puhovski said.

He said that Škoro is more or less a new face on the political scene but in fact represents Tudjman's old platform for the 21st century "but in a milder and less staunch way, because these are different times."

"That is a populist platform. Populism today is the latest fad and Škoro is in the know of what is happening in large world centres."

On the other hand, Puhovski thinks that Milanović is the man the left wants yet he does not want to be a candidate for the left unlike Grabar-Kitarović who wants to be the candidate for the right but the right does not want her.

More news about presidential elections 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 19, 2019 - The Reformists are breaking off their cooperation with the ruling coalition to support Zoran Milanović as the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) for president, their leader Radimir Čačić announced on Wednesday.

Speaking in an interview with the N1 television station, Čačić said that he was no longer communicating with the ruling majority and that the party would definitely support Milanovic's presidency bid.

Cacic believes that Milanovic's chances of winning the election would be greater if Miroslav Škoro stood a candidate as he would attract the votes of "the clerical, hard-line right" which would reduce the chances for the incumbent President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović.

Asked about the party's support for Andrej Plenković's government, Čačić said that the Reformists were never in coalition with the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) "nor will they ever be."

The government's results have led to this and we will be exiting cooperation on projects and will no longer communicate with the ruling majority.

The Reformists have one seat in parliament and were not in formal coalition with the HDZ but only supported the government through "cooperation on projects."

At the parliamentary election in 2016, the Reformists ran in coalition with the Labour and Solidarity party of Zagreb mayor Milan Bandić. They left Bandić's parliamentary group in January and have since then acted independently.

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

ZAGREB, June 18, 2019 - President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, who is currently in Estonia, briefly commented on Tuesday on former prime minister Zoran Milanovic's announcement that he would run for the presidency and said that everyone who satisfies the conditions in the Constitution has the right to be a candidate.

"As I have said before, anyone in Croatia who meets the conditions in the Croatian Constitution has the right to be a candidate," she briefly told Croatian reporters, who were asked earlier by her entourage not to ask her when she intends to announce her candidacy.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković would not comment on former SDP prime minister Zoran Milanović's presidency bid on Tuesday.

"This is a democratic country, anyone can stand as a candidate, and formal candidacies are still a few months away," Plenković told a press conference in Zagreb.

Asked if Milanović's bid was unexpected, the prime minister said he had not thought about it. Plenković recalled that he had defeated Milanović in the parliamentary election three years ago and added: "He may lose again."

Asked if the message he had made on Monday at a ceremony marking 30 years since the foundation of his HDZ party was a call to the incumbent President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović to announce her candidacy for a second term in office, Plenković said that it was up to the president to choose the best time to announce her bid.

"As you could see yesterday from the reaction of the audience, the HDZ will give her strong support, and she has had my support all this time. It's up to her to decide when she will announce her candidacy, I think the message from the Lisinski concert hall was very clear yesterday, and you should ask her why she is waiting," he added.

Addressing Monday's ceremony, Plenković said he expected Grabar-Kitarović to run for a second term in office, adding that it was up to her to decide the right time to announce her presidency bid and that the HDZ was waiting for her "with open arms."

More news about presidential elections 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.