ZAGREB, May 5, 2018 – The Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) held a conference in Šibenik on Saturday for county prefects, mayors and heads of municipalities coming from the HDZ ranks and on that occasion the party’s leader, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, and secretary-general, Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković, called for unity and pointed out the strength and stability of the ruling party.
In reference to local elections in June 2017, Plenković recalled that the HDZ won in 13 counties and in 50% of cities, towns and municipalities. “This proves that we are the largest party in the country and the only one that has the capacity for the multi-level management of Croatia.”
We live in a globalised world with free flow of capital, investors doing business in line with laws are welcome, and this is what the HDZ, the government and the parliament are committed to, Plenković said, criticising some on the Croatian political scene who “promote anti-developmental, anti-investment and an anti-European reflex.” Therefore, we must work together to make sure that our actions are fast, reliable, transparent and corruption-free, Plenković said in his address to HDZ office-holders.
Members of the public must see who is serious and who is frivolous and we all must send messages along these lines, the HDZ chief said. “You must be the ones who give ideas to enhance our initiatives.”
We must make sure that the Slavonia project is given a clear framework and that we spearhead the process of development of Croatian counties, Plenković said. He recalled that the authorities had also set up a department for islands and that the concept of smart islands must be a part of HDZ policies. “We must enable the development of public healthcare services, the accessibility and connectivity of the islands, and those are aspects to be addressed by a new legislative framework that will be finalised by the end of this year.”
The HDZ secretary-general said that today’s conference was also about possibilities for absorbing the European Union’s funds. “There are those who advocate leaving the EU. Are they aware that this means giving up on Pelješac Bridge and being left without hundreds of millions of euro for agriculture and for those out of work, Jandroković asked and added, “No more demagogy and false promises that bring nothing good to Croatia.”
The Šibenik conference was organised by the HDZ and the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, a German political foundation.
