ZAGREB, March 1, 2019 – The head of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) parliamentary group, Branko Bačić, on Friday commented on the statement by Ivan Vrdoljak, leader of the Croatian People’s Party (HNS), a junior partner in the HDZ-led government, that he would support a possible presidential candidacy of former Social Democrat prime minister Zoran Milanović, saying that “during talks between the HDZ and the HNS on the formation of the parliamentary majority there was no talk of a joint candidate for presidential elections.”
“The HNS is therefore free to decide on its own who it will support. But if history is life’s teacher, and it should be, for all of us, let me remind you that their joint participation in the last parliamentary election resulted in Zoran Milanović leaving politics. I believe they will both give it some thought before announcing a candidacy,” said Bacic.
He added that the HNS could decide on its own who to nominate and “since Deputy PM (and HNS member) Predrag Štromar has said that they are not satisfied with the president’s work, that’s what the HNS’s position is.”
Asked if the HDZ would talk to other coalition partners to possibly secure their support for its presidential candidate, Bačić said that one should wait for the HDZ to state its position on the matter first.
He repeated that the HDZ would support incumbent President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović if she decided to run for a second term in office, recalling that she had said that she would announce her possible candidacy after elections for the European Parliament, set for May.
Asked about the political responsibility of Social Policy Minister Nada Murganić for a tragedy that happened on Thursday on Pag island, where a man threw his four underage children off the first-storey balcony of the house they live in, Bačić said that “the Prime Minister has stated his position on the matter” and that “there is no political responsibility on Minister Murganić’s part.”
“She promptly travelled to Zadar to investigate the circumstances of the case. I support her work, her ministry does an excellent job and she enjoys our full support,” said Bačić.
PM Andrej Plenković said on Thursday that there was no political responsibility on Murganić’s part and that all should fight against phenomena such as domestic violence, violence against women and peer violence. The best way to do it is through a strong family, good parenting and education, he said.
Asked if the functioning of the social care system should be checked given the frequency of cases of violence lately, Plenković answered in the affirmative, noting that the system should be continually improved.
More news on the upcoming elections can be found in the Politics section.
