HDZ presents its election campaign program

The HDZ presented its program for the upcoming parliamentary elections under the slogan "For all challenges" on Thursday. The elections have been called for Wednesday April 17th.

Presenting the HDZ’s election program party president Andrej Plenković vowed that if elected to another four year mandate his new government will raise the average salary to €1 600, the minimum wage to €1 250, and increase pensions by 30%, to an average of €750. He also promised to open 125 thousand new jobs, give mothers one year of pensionable service for each newborn child, and to double the duration of paid paternity leave: "This is a series program, drafted by serious people over many months. This is not the result of something that hasn't been calculated both in terms of finances and budgetary limits. And as with everything we do, this is above all a realistic and concrete program that is good for the Croatian people and the Croatian economy. And that is why I am convinced that in this campaign, which is days away from its formal beginning, we will be that political force, together with our partners, that will receive the majority support of the Croatian people to lead Croatia in the coming four years. We have the results and achievements, and we do not lack the strength, will and enthusiasm."

President Zoran Milanović was active on social media on Thursday, once again taking the opportunity to criticized Plenković and his reign as Prime Minister: "Andrej Plenković says he doesn't know who AP is. But all of us know who AP is, it's Andrej Plenković. Plenković is the patron of corruption in Croatia, and under his rule the worst system of corruption in Croatian history was created. There isn't a ministry, state-owned company or public institution which was immune to theft, favoritism, or at the very least cheating. Plenković is a usurper who has occupied almost every single independent institution in our country. And now, at any cost, he wished to occupy the State Attorney's Office in a bid to stop an investigation into his ministers and closest associates. And that's exactly why he chose a party chum for Chief State Attorney. Plenković also continues to convince the Croatian people that they are living well, albeit unsuccessfully. But he has impoverished pensioners, to whom he has given a one off aid package solely because it's election time."

Meanwhile, Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković commented on President Milanović's claim that the alleged shooting of Chief State Prosecutor Ivan Turudić's car was a staged incident: "We've already had some cases where public individuals were murdered, and back then some people mocked similar incidents that ultimately ended in tragedy. So, I don't know where the president is getting his information that this was organized, as he claims. But I wouldn't play around with this kind of thing, it's very dangerous because you never know what can happen."

Source: HRT