ZAGREB, April 14, 2018 – The right-wing political project DESNO, which brings together members of the political party the Democratic Alliance for National Renewal (DESNO) and the Croatian Party of Rights – Dr. Ante Starčević (HSP AS), was presented at a press conference in the eastern city of Osijek on Saturday.
“We are aware of the present situation in Croatia and have decided to launch the process of establishing the Alliance for National Renewal on the DESNO platform to react to what is happening to us. One of the reasons is the ratification of the Istanbul Convention, but it is not the only reason,” said the leader of the DESNO party, Anto Đapić.
He said that they wanted to create a strong bloc, which would be open to talks with all patriotic forces, for the next elections. “We demand changes to the present electoral system which allows, for example, representatives of the Serb minority to decide on vital issues without having the legitimacy to do so,” Đapić said.
He called on all right-wing parties to join them in creating a new political force that would oppose the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP). “The HDZ has changed its political agenda and is no longer right-wing. They have gone over to the left side of the political spectrum and there is no substantial difference between them and the SDP,” Đapić said.
HSP AS leader Vlatka Vukelić said this was “a new wave of Croatian right-wing parties,” adding that the DESNO project would be presented every week in a different town across the country.
