Leaders of the opposition coalition Kukuriku presented in Osijek on Saturday their candidates for Constituency No. 4, calling on voters to vote for them in next month's parliamentary election as the only way for Croatia to overcome the current crisis.
Social Democratic Party (SDP) president Zoran Milanovic said at a rally the coalition's messages were clear and honest, and that its key message was that Croatia's success and future depended "on us."
Croatia's success will be measured by the success of its poorest regions, he said, adding that Croatia needed a government which could solve the problems of the currently poor Slavonia and Baranja region. He said "let's turn our backs without hatred and harsh words" to the government and the policy "which grabbed only for itself."
The incumbent government had "eight years to do something for Croatia's well-being but didn't" and Croatia "is the last country in Europe according to all indicators except the potential that we have and will use," said Milanovic.
Croatian People's Party (HNS) president Radimir Cacic said Croatia was "depressed and fearful of the future" and that it "needs people with courage and vision to awaken both self-respect and self-confidence among citizens."
"A country comes out of a crisis either stronger or there is anarchy and sometimes a break-up," he said, adding that Croatia's advantage was having "potential that is suppressed." He said Milanovic was Croatia's new prime minister.
Croatian Pensioners' Party (HSU) president Silvano Hrelja said the opposition coalition would revoke privileged pensions for MPs and government members when it came to power.
Istrian Democratic Party (IDS) president Ivan Jakovcic said Croatia needed changes, adding that the coalition wanted an honest and prosperous Croatia, which "no one can achieve but us." He said the day after the December 4 election "we won't live better but we will get the chance to build a state in which all have equal rights."
The coalition's first candidate on the slate in Constituency No. 4, Biljana Borzan (SDP), said there was no reason for "hard living in the rich Slavonia and Baranja," where she said industry and manufacturing had been destroyed over the past 20 years and farming did not have a future without irrigation and drainage.
Borzan said all Croatian region must be developed equally.
Constituency No. 4 covers Virovitica-Podravina and Osijek-Baranja counties.
