ZAGREB, April 8, 2019 – The ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) submitted its slate for the European Parliament elections to the State Election Commission (DIP) on Monday morning, and on that occasion, the party leader and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said that this slate was strong and provided guarantees for the protection of Croatian national interests.
“The HDZ has chosen a very strong and quality list of candidates that includes two current Croatian MEPs, three deputies in the national parliament, two very active and successful county prefects, of Šibenik and Slavonski Brod Counties, and another four candidates that are excellent in their careers and skilful in pursuing European policies,” Plenković said after the slate was submitted.
Those who are elected will be very good in articulating and protecting Croatia’s national interests, all of them know very well how the EU and the EP function, Plenković said.
“The slate is comprehensive,” he said, dismissing speculations that it was made up on the party chief’s orders. He recalled that the candidates had been nominated by county and local branches and that the slate was endorsed unanimously in a democratic process.
Plenković expressed his conviction that the HDZ will win the EP elections in Croatia, set for 26 May.
The HDZ slate for the EP elections is headed by Karlo Ressler, a 30-year-old party official who coordinated the preparation of the HDZ platform for the upcoming European elections and whom the HDZ Youth unanimously nominated for the list which was presented to the public on Friday evening.
The second place of the 12-candidate slate is occupied by a Croatian MEP, Dubravka Šuica, and she is followed by MP Tomislav Sokol, while one more HDZ MEP, Željana Zovko, ranks fourth, and she is followed by two members of the national parliament, Sunčana Glavak and Marijana Balić.
The slate also includes the heads of Šibenik-Knin and Brod-Posavina Counties – Goran Pauk and Danijel Marušić, respectively – Transport Ministry state secretary Nikolina Brnjac, Osijek-Baranja County Development Agency head Stjepan Ribić, Split-Dalmatia County Port Authority head Domagoj Maroević, and assistant HDZ secretary-general Stjepan Adanić.
More election news can be found in the Politics section.
