Although it was expected that the MOST leader would run against Plenković and Milanović, he will stay in the southernmost parliamentary constituency.
MOST president and Deputy Prime Minister Božo Petrov confirmed on Friday that he would run in the tenth parliamentary constituency, where he will be at the top of the MOST candidate list. He rejected allegations that he refused to run in the first parliamentary constituency because he feared to run against leaders of SDP and HDZ, Zoran Milanović and Andrej Plenković, reports Novi List on August 12, 2016.
“I would like to have that challenge, but I have said that I will listen what the majority of people in MOST want, and the majority decided that I should run in the tenth constituency because the town from which we started our project, Metković, is located in that constituency and it would be right for me to run there”, said Petrov after MOST on Friday submitted its candidate lists to the State Election Commission.
Reporters also asked Petrov about the fact that in November he was at the last place on the candidate list, but now he will be at the very top. Petrov replied that he “had offered to other people to take the first position”, namely Ivan Kovačić, the mayor of Omiš, but in the end MOST decided that he should be the first on the list. “I would personally not have anything against being at whatever position in any of the ten constituencies”, said Petrov. He also confirmed that MOST would have its candidates in all ten constituencies, as well in the special eleventh constituency which votes for 3 MPs who represent Croatian citizens living abroad.
Petrov did not disclose other people on their lists, expect confirming that current Interior Minister Vlaho Orepić would run in the first constituency and MOST spokesman Nikola Grmoja would run in the sixth constituency.
Talking about the fact that SDP president Zoran Milanović recently said that tonight’s debate between him and HDZ president Plenković should also include Petrov, the MOST leader said he was not being honest. “If Milanović really did mean it, then it should be his condition for appearing at the debate, but to my knowledge he did not do that. He said it just as a matter of courtesy”, said Petrov.
Parties have until Saturday evening to submit their candidate lists for the upcoming parliamentary elections which will take place on 11 September.
