ZAGREB, January 21, 2018 – Leaders of the Civil Liberal Alliance (GLAS), Pametno and the Istrian Democratic Party (IDS), held their first summit in Zagreb on Sunday, saying that their goal was to develop Croatia as a modern state built on the tenets of liberal democracies and to offer the citizens of Croatia optimism and hope in a better future.
Asked by the press whether the three parties, dubbed the Amsterdam Coalition because they agreed their cooperation in the Dutch city, were planning on running in the next presidential race with a joint candidate, GLAS leader Anka Mrak Taritaš said they were definitely entertaining this idea, but that it was too early to discuss names. She said she herself was not considering this option, but was not ruling it out either.
The three parties share views on a number of issues, including a revision of the agreements between Croatia and the Holy See. Mrak Taritaš said they had requested answers from the government regarding specific issues such as changing labour legislation.
Pametno leader Marijana Puljak announced their first joint event, the Liberal Forum, for late February in Split. The forum will focus on education and youth and on how young people see their future in Croatia, Europe and the world.
IDS leader Boris Miletić expressed satisfaction with the cooperation between the three parties, saying they had a high level of consensus on fundamental human values, multiculturalism, and civil and minority rights. As key issues for the development of Croatia, he cited decentralisation of power based on subsidiarity, fiscal decentralisation, increasing economic competitiveness, promoting competitiveness in the tourism sector and strengthening agriculture.
Responding to questions from the press, Miletić welcomed the government’s decision to grant a state guarantee to the Pula-based Uljanik shipyard for a loan, adding that shipbuilding was an industry of national interest.
