Lower VAT and corporate taxes, no increase in price of health insurance.
HDZ presented on Wednesday its economic manifesto which promotes economic growth, new jobs and social justice, reports Jutarnji List on August 17, 2016.
The event was addressed by HDZ president Andrej Plenković, who said that he expected his party to win the forthcoming parliamentary elections. “In complex transitional conditions, we have achieve many successes, but there were some failures which we have to fix”, he said. “The manifesto consists of 12 chapters, divided into three main parts: economic growth and demographic renewal, institution building, and fair society”, he said and promised economic growth of five percent and an increase in the employment rate from 60 to 68 percent.
Plenković said that reforms were constant changes that are a precondition for development and competitiveness. He said they would stop those practices which discouraged businesses – bureaucracy, public administration, tax administration and justice system will function within a reliable framework. “We will accelerate the work of courts, and everything will be done in one place so that citizens do not have to wander around. We will introduce e-business services and public administration will become a service to citizens and companies.”
“’We will shorten court proceedings and insist on even more determined fight against crime, especially against corruption. Public procurement system will be transparent, and a comprehensive tax reform will be implemented, with the reduction of labour and corporate taxes”, said Plenković
HDZ intends to continue with comprehensive education reform, and puts special emphasis on investments in science. “We will increase the level of investment to the European average. Without investments in research, development and science, there can be no competitive economy”, said the HDZ president.
In the field of health care, there will be no increase in price of supplemental health insurance and patient co-payments, while the number of physicians in primary health care will be increased. One of major aspects of economic growth is tourism which should receive additional investments.
As for the demographic renewal policies, HDZ believes that is one of the key parts of its manifesto. “Without secure jobs, there can be no demographic renewal and therefore we have put emphasis on employment.” He also pointed out that parents will receive 7,500 kuna for each newborn child.
The third part of the manifesto refers to social justice and solidarity. “We will lead a dialogue with partners, trade unions and others. We will build a society of justice in which we will return dignity to workers”. Plenković promised they would encourage activities of NGOs and support media policies which will promote pluralism and respect for media freedom.
