Milanović could run for president or for the European Parliament.
Although he has repeatedly said he would not return to party politics and although he froze his mandate as an MP and turned to private business, rumours about the return of former Prime Minister and SDP president Zoran Milanović are continuing. They are causing additional chaos in the largest opposition party, which is in turmoil anyway, with some prominent members wanting to depose current party president Davor Bernardić, reports Večernji List on May 25, 2017.
It all started with claims that SDP should find a new candidate for prime minister in the event of snap parliamentary elections, because the party is unlikely to win with the current leader Bernardić.
Many high-ranking SDP members mentioned as a potential candidate for prime minister former CEO of Podravka and former Mayor of Koprivnica Zvonimir Mršić. However, some other party members, who are not impressed with Mršić, unofficially say it would be much better to persuade Milanović to return to politics once again. Rumours grew even louder when Milanović appeared at several public events, such as the 10th anniversary of the death of first SDP leader Ivica Račan, where he gave a speech and then gave a statement to the media about the current political situation.
His remarks at the commemoration were seen by some prominent SDP members as the obvious evidence that Milanović has a plan to run at the next presidential election. “Prior to the presidential election, he could run for the European Parliament, where he would probably be the candidate to win the highest number of votes, which would be an excellent starting point for the presidential election campaign afterwards,” explained one of Milanović’s former ministers.
The latest rumour about Milanović’s return is that he plans to found a new political party. According to the same sources, the former Prime Minister has already had some talks with prominent social democrats to hear their views on the idea. One of SDP’s vice-presidents has confirmed that he has heard the story and that you should never say never. However, sources close to Milanović say this is nonsense and that the former Prime Minister has no intention of setting up his own party. They add there is no point in Milanović founding a new party after leading SDP for ten years.
Former SDP minister and now political analyst Mirela Holy says she is confident that Milanović will return to the Parliament. “If there are no early parliamentary elections soon, I am sure we will see him again in the Parliament in the autumn, because he will reactivate his mandate as a Member of Parliament,” Holy says.
