ZAGREB, November 5, 2018 – The Croatian People’s Party (HNS), a junior partner in the ruling coalition government, said on Monday that it was unacceptable that President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović “is justifying and currying favour with hate-mongers and the notorious far-right,” instead of co-creating the country’s foreign policy with the government.
Co-creation of the country’s foreign policy is in the president’s job description rather than self-promotion and similar activities, the HNS said in a statement.
The party believes that it would be appropriate for the president to explain her decision not to travel to an international conference on migrations in the Moroccan city of Marrakesh to both the government and the public.
Acts such as the president’s harm Croatia’s reputation in the international community and the United Nations and we believe it is important that the president tells the public clearly why she has entirely changed her position and why she relayed her decision to hate-mongers instead of the government and the Croatian public, notably in light of the fact that she initially told the UN secretary-general that she would attend the conference in question, the HNS says in the statement.
Acts such as the president’s additionally blur the public perception of migrants that is currently based primarily on disinformation disseminated by populists and radicals who portray them as a danger to the EU, the party said.
Responsible politicians have the task to find a way, with clear ideas and policies, to integrate migrants in European society, the HNS says. The purpose is to enable migrants to prosper, and open and tolerant societies can equally benefit from their competencies, skills and positive ambitions. That goal will not be possible to achieve by currying favour with hate-mongers and radicals, the HNS said in its statement.
For more on the activities of Croatian President kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, click here.
