PHOTO: I Don`t Have A Dream, But I Do Have A Plan

SDP president`s plan is a better SDP and a better Croatia.

ZAGREB, CROATIA – The Social Democratic Party (SDP) convention began with loud applause and whistles for party president Zoran Milanovic, as well as guests Anto Djapic (Croatian Party of Rights – HSP) and Milorad Pupovac (Independent Democratic Serbian Party – SDSS). Milanovic thanked his party colleagues for all they did in the past year.

- So much sweat has been spilled, hours of work, energy, desires, emotions and nearly 2,000 of us are here today to talk about it – Milanovic said.

He believes that the SDP, as the only real alternative, must speak out on special issues and problems. He points out that what binds SDP members is “love for the SDP, love for Croatia and the desire to do something”.

- There are small benefits for the pocket, SDP members are like that, they are different – SDP president said.

“The SDP is not a historic monument, but a living organism that develops”

- The SDP is not a historic monument, but a living organism that develops – Milanovic said. He pointed out he was proud of the fact that the SDP is a party with the largest amount of women in Croatia, although he believes that 30 percent of female SDP members in the Parliament is not enough.

Milanovic looked back on the speech of the great Martin Luther King and his famous quote !I have a dream!, pointing put that he does not have a dream, but that he has a plan for a better SDP and a better Croatia.

Convention without guests from the governing coalition

Croatian People`s Party president Radimir Cacic answered to the invitation and attended the convention, as well as HSP president Anto Djapic, who is SDP`s coalition partner in Osijek, Iva Jerkovic (Istrian Democratic Assembly – IDS), Milorad Pupovac of the SDSS, Silvano Hrelja of the Croatian Pensioners` Party (HSU), while nobody from the governing HDZ-HSLS-HSS (Croatian Democratic Union – Croatian Social-Liberal Party – Croatian Peasants` Party) coalition came to the convention.

SDP to elect president and change party Statute today

The SDP will elect party president today, among the following candidates: Zoran Milanovic, Davorko Vidovic and Dragan Kovacevic. Seven SDP members are competing for two vice presidential posts: Milanka Opacic, Neven Mimica, Zlatko Komadina, Damir Gasparovic, Veljan Radojkovic, Ingrid Anticevic-Marinovic and Mato Arlovic.

The party is also to change its Statute today. According to the new one, deputy party president post would be revoked, and a 10 member Presidency would be re-established, which would include the party president and two vice presidents, while other seven members would be elected at a convention, according to regional characteristics.

30 SDP members from the entire country are running for the seven Presidency seats: Biljana Borzan, Ranko Ostojic, Marin Jurjevic, Boris Sprem, Goran Halilovic Pastulovic, Vanja Posavec, Gordan Maras, Pedja Grbin, Biserka Vranic, Nenad Stazic, Zvonimir Mrsic, Sinisa Hajdas Doncic, Ivica Perhoc, Zoran Vinkovic, Zdravko Ronko, Vojko Obersnel, Vidoje Vujic, Tomo Doko, Marina Lovric, Dubravko Bilic, Branko Tusek, Zeljko Szabo, Antun Omazic, Tonino Picula, Milan Bandic, Ivo Jelusic, Zeljka Antunovic, Tihomir Jakovina, Roberto Lujic and Zeljko Racki.

Take a look at PHOTOGALLERY 1, PHOTOGALLERY 2, PHOTOGALLERY 3 and PHOTOGALLERY 4.