ZAGREB, December 16, 2018 – Croatian SDP (Social Democratic Party) leader Davor Bernardić, speaking at this year’s last meeting of the party’s main committee on Saturday, said that the purpose of the SDP’s existence was to reduce social inequalities and combat injustice and discrimination.
He said that the situation in the SDP was not as gloomy as being portrayed by the media, after several lawmakers left this largest opposition party.
“Never in its history has parliament reflected the will of the citizens less than today. As many as 28 MPs have changed their political ideas and their party colours, completely negating the will of the citizens who elected them. Traitors and defectors from all parties, including those from the SDP, tried to fool the citizens with their inept spins, while only proving that they never cared about the SDP and social democracy. Those servants of the ruling HDZ showed their true colours and now it’s quite clear why those same people tried to topple me and the SDP. Despite the attempts being made through the media to create an impression of gloom and doom, new people are joining us every day,” Bernardić said.
He said that people were emigrating from Croatia not only because of low wages, but also because they cannot stand injustices and have no trust in the state institutions. “People have no trust in the institutions that are supposed to protect them against violence and crime, and are disillusioned. Thugs are walking the streets freely, acquitted by courts, while the country is sinking in scandals and the State Attorney is doing nothing.”
“Love for Croatia is shown not by waving flags and denying truth and reality, but by showing our readiness to get out of the comfort zone, rise against injustice, fight for what we believe in and change the laws so that they protect personal freedoms, the rights of minorities and women, the rights of others and those who are different. We should believe in what we do, because as long as we believe in ourselves, people will not lose confidence in us and will not lose the faith that Croatia can be different. It’s all up to us,” the SDP leader concluded.
The main committee adopted the party’s financial plan for 2019 and discussed preparations for next year’s European Parliament election, policies for higher wages and pensions and health policy.
The meeting was not attended by deputy leaders Zlatko Komadina and Rajko Ostojić and most of the members of the SDP presidency.
More news on the dismal state of affairs in SDP can be found in our Politics section.
