Josipović says goodbye to Social Democrat Party

Radio.net

16.01.2010 u 12:47

"This was a joint victory", president elect Ivo Josipović told members of the Social Democrat Party at the opening of the party's assembly, thanking them for their support in the presidential campaign

'Thank you for your immense, honest and selfless support. Without you, this would not have been possible", said President-elect Josipović in his last address to his party-mates during his five-year mandate in office.

Josipović said that he would be president to all of Croatia's citizens, representing all political colours, and added that he expects of the SDP a vision, proposals, cooperation, and, 'if the situation in parliament turns, then even more'.

Croatia's third president expressed hope that, during his tenure, the president's office will become a meeting place for understanding and development, and stated belief that the SDP's contribution to this will not be small.

'I will not disappoint you or the Croatian people', Josipović told the SDP.

Party Chairman Zoran Milanović assessed Josipović's presidential victory as 'victory of mankind, as well as a grand, democratically organized party'.

Milanović said that the SDP's candidate victory meant that Croatia once again wants to be a nation that cherishes virtues such as honesty and hard work, virtues 'that we feared were forgotten in Croatia', adding, however, that there was no time to celebrate, because Croatia has plenty of work ahead.

Today's SDP assembly will consider a stance on the SDP members who sided with party maverick and presidential candidate Milan Bandić. The party leadership come to an agreement, but will not make it public until the assembly votes on it.

The majority of top party members who sided with Bandić have, just like their leader was when he announced that he would run for office, ejected from the party, while those who currently remain in the party may find their memberships voided after the assembly votes.

Reports from within the SDP say that the assembly may also decide on opening the race for the party's leading position in Zagreb. Last year, SDP members Ivo Jelušić, Željka Antunović and Davor Bernadić ran for the spot left vacant by Bandić.