Social Democratic Party (SDP) leader Zoran Milanovic said at an election rally in the northern Adriatic city of Pula on Tuesday that Croatians needed "strong state institutions that will pave the way to success for us all" and that the centre-left coalition, headed by his party, wanted to "restore people's trust in the state and its institutions."
Speaking of the forthcoming parliamentary election, to be held on December 4, Milanovic said that it would not be a historic event but would definitely be very important.
"Too many things in Croatia have been called historic, we have actually overdosed on history. This election is important because we are changing the existing model of government and want to restore people's trust in the state and its institutions," he said.
Ivan Jakovcic, leader of the Istrian Democratic Party, which is a member of the coalition, said the coalition's rallies in Dalmatia and Slavonia showed that people wanted change. Istria will support the new government, Jakovcic said, adding that he trusted the new government to recognise the regional identity of Istria and support local projects.
Silvano Hrelja, leader of the Croatian Pensioners' Party, also a member of the centre-left coalition, said the new government would work on adjusting pensions to living costs instead of to salaries in order to "maintain the real value of pensions". He also announced the abolishment of privileged pensions for members of Parliament and defining the minimum years of service required for entitlement to a full pension.
