MEP Marijana Petir and Koprivnica-Križevci County Prefect Darko Koren could soon be expelled from their party.
HSS presidency rejected on Saturday an appeal by MEP Marijana Petir and Koprivnica-Križevci County Prefect Darko Koren to the decision on their suspension. It has also initiated a procedure against them due to their alleged political responsibility for obstructing the party efforts during the recent parliamentary elections, reports Index.hr on October 1, 2016.
Petir and Koren are two of the seven HSS members who have appealed their suspensions and whose appeal the presidency rejected. Three of the suspended members have not filed an appeal, but the presidency also decided to initiate proceedings against them as well.
HSS president Beljak said that this meant that the presidency adopted his proposal with a large majority of votes and that no one was against. One presidency member abstained from voting. Beljak added that the presidency also decided (with two abstentions) that he would be their candidate for party president at party elections to be held on 22 October. He added that there were also a lot of other suspended party members, but their situation was somewhat better since they had not commented in public about their suspensions.
Member of the European Parliament Marijana Petir said that the party leadership had abandoned the values of HSS and that “they have killed HSS to protect their positions”. “I can forgive them for what they are doing to me, but HSS membership and Croatian people will not forgive them for killing HSS”, said Petir, adding that it was clear she was eliminated because she had announced her candidacy for party president.
“Everyone in Croatia knows that I am being eliminated because I have announced intention to run for HSS president. With this decision, Beljak and his vice-presidents have demonstrated cowardice and fear, because they know they would lose if I were a candidate”, said Petir. “All 107 suspended delegates will not be able to participate in the party conference. With this, Beljak removed his opponents and sent a message to others what will happen if they dare to express their disagreement with the way in which he is leading HSS to ruin.”
