ZAGREB, May 26, 2018 – Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, addressing a general convention of his Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) party in Zagreb on Saturday, called for unity and said that he would fight for the Croatia that had been dreamt of by its first president Franjo Tuđman and Croatian war veterans.
“We are fighting for a successful Croatia in which everyone will live in dignity from their work and their pension, for a Croatia with the highest level of healthcare, for a Croatia in which entrepreneurs will be able to do business more easily … for a country of hard-working, proud and open people, for a Croatia in which a strong, cohesive and modern HDZ will be the key political force,” Plenković said to tumultuous applause from about 5,000 party members and sympathisers.
He highlighted the priorities for the future of the country: demographic revitalisation, strengthening the economy and reducing taxes, especially VAT before the end of this year, completing strategic energy and transport infrastructure projects such as the construction of a liquefied natural gas terminal on Krk island and a bridge between the mainland and the Pelješac peninsula.
Plenković also emphasised the role of the HDZ for Croatia’s future, saying that it “is the only party that has the strength to gather people from all walks of life, who have nation-building and patriotic views, both in Croatia and abroad.” In this context he announced a possibility of postal voting for the diaspora.
“We should also make maximum use of the anchor that we have in the EU and NATO, through readiness for accession to the Schengen area and securing the borders, through the EU presidency after only seven years of membership and finally through the adoption of the euro,” the HDZ leader said.
All this can be achieved only through unity. “When we are united, the HDZ is invincible even in the worst of situations. I also want this unity, strength and togetherness to grace us in the years to come,” Plenković said in conclusion of his hour-long speech.
In his speech, Parliament Speaker and HDZ secretary-general Gordan Jandroković called on party members to show unity and respect mutual differences. “Let us respect one another, let us watch one another’s back, let’s be and work together because when we are together, no one can do us harm, we are and will stay the strongest,” Jadroković said, receiving a round of applause.
He announced that the HDZ would be the winner of all coming elections. “I can guarantee you that, but for that to happen, we need unity,” he told the attending party delegates, calling on them to support one another and respect mutual differences.
Jandroković went on to say that the convention was proof of the HDZ’s strength. The president of the country, the prime minister and 18 government ministers, most county heads and mayors come from the HDZ. “That did not happen by accident, that is the result of our political vision and hard work on a daily basis, which is something our political opponents do not understand… We are not an accidental choice of Croatian voters,” said Jandroković, adding that the HDZ was currently the only party that could guarantee political stability, social stability and economic growth. “Our responsibility is great and that is why we are being attacked,” Jandroković said, adding that the HDZ would not let political adventurers destroy it.
Speaking of the party’s results since the convention of two years ago, Jadroković recalled that that period was marked by stormy political and party events, a fall of the government, former HDZ leader Tomislav Karamarko’s departure from the political scene, and the election of Andrej Plenković as the new HDZ leader.
The party won parliamentary elections and formed a government with MOST, but due to the Agrokor case and unfair conduct of the coalition partners, the cooperation was terminated and a new parliamentary majority was formed, Jadroković said, boasting also that the HDZ had sorted out its finances in the past two years and recalling that the party’s debt was 17 million kuna when Plenković was elected party leader.
Speaking of the party’s future, he said that its financial consolidation would continue, that the post of assistant secretary-general would be introduced and that the post of the HDZ youth organisation’s secretary would be professionalised.
Attending the convention were also European People’s Party (EPP) whip Manfred Weber, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, and the president of the HDZ of Bosnia and Herzegovina Dragan Ćović.
“Croatia is a proud country, together we stand for a strong Europe,” Weber said in Croatian. For Christian Democrats, Europe is based on Christianity and the EPP will defend Christianity, said Weber, a statement that was welcomed by a round of applause.
Christianity is important for good politics, without it, politics is full of egoism, Borisov said, noting that Croatia and Bulgaria should work together to the benefit of Europe and show that the Western Balkans was not a backward region.
