Independent MP Dario Zurovec joins ruling coalition, boosting HDZ majority

With the recent arrival of former SDP lawmaker Boško Ban, the HDZ-led government now holds 78 seats.

Zurovec, 39, and mayor of Sveta Nedelja, said his main motivation for joining the coalition is to improve infrastructure and attract investment to his city and district.

"When you're in the opposition and you visit a ministry, they make you wait for an hour before you're received by a junior official. And they always tell you there's something wrong with your paperwork. That's the absolute truth. It's insane. But you can't change the system unless you're part of the government. Some people will condemn my decision, while others will welcome it. At the end of the day, the only thing that matters is what remains after my mandate," Zurovec said.

Reactions to the decision were swift and widespread across the political spectrum.

HSLS President Dario Hrebak described the development as the formation of a "new" ruling coalition.

"These new members are closer in mindset to the 'centre' political option, which gives us a different outlook on what happens within this government moving forward. We in HSLS believe this is an ongoing process which is not yet finished," Hrebak said.

Možemo! MP Sandra Benčić criticized the move, raising concerns about potential political pressure on local governments.

"If we have sitting members of parliament and mayors of Croatian cities openly saying that if they're not part of the ruling coalition they cannot receive EU funds, for example, or approval for infrastructure projects, then what does that say about the government? Are they using such tactics to blackmail units of local self-government into supporting the government?" Benčić asked.

Prime Minister and HDZ President Andrej Plenković welcomed Zurovec’s decision but dismissed accusations of preferential treatment for coalition-aligned local governments.

"We are happy that he independently made the choice to join the ruling coalition. As for accusations that we discriminate against cities and regions represented by other political options, they are completely baseless. If that were true, Istria would not have a second tube through the Učka Tunnel, the Y highway would not have been extended, nor would there be numerous other infrastructure projects and investments. Those accusations are absolutely false," Plenković said.