ZAGREB, April 29, 2019 – Candidates on the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) slate for European elections on Sunday visited the northern town of Čakovec, with the lead candidate, Karlo Ressler, saying that they were touring towns that had received EU funding for local projects in order to make citizens aware that local projects were connected with European projects.
“That is why elections for the European Parliament are, in a way, local elections,” Ressler said, adding that the HDZ platform was based on the promotion of Croatian identity, history and culture.
Speaking of a visit by German Chancellor Angela Merkel to Zagreb on May 18, when she will attend an HDZ election rally, Ressler said that the visit would support strongly the party’s campaign and would provide an opportunity to send a broader European message.
“It will also be one of the few visits by the EPP candidate for European Commission President, Manfred Weber, and a strong message of support to what the HDZ has been doing,” Ressler said, adding that Prime Minister and HDZ leader Andrej Plenković’s work in running the country and the party was recognised also outside Croatia.
“In Zagreb, we will send a message of European unity and unity of the European People’s Party,” said Ressler.
Economy Minister Darko Horvat, who accompanied the HDZ candidates during their visit to Čakovec, was asked to comment on Social Democratic Party (SDP) leader Davor Bernardić signing a union petition calling for a referendum against raising the retirement age to 67, and he said that there would be more petty politicking during the current election campaign.
What Labour and Pension System Minister Marko Pavić has been doing is the only way to pull the pension system out of problems, Horvat said.
More European election news can be found in the Politics section.
