Milanović Calls for SDP Shake-Up as Croatia Faces Political Uncertainty

President Zoran Milanović has called for a shake-up of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Croatia, returning the party to its old positions due to a lack of results. The move comes as the country faces political uncertainty following parliamentary elections that failed to produce a clear winner.

The ruling conservative Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) party won the most seats in the election but fell short of a majority. The main opposition center-left SDP, backed by Milanović, came in second. The far-right Homeland Movement also surfaced as a potential kingmaker, winning 14 seats.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković of HDZ said the party has already started talks about forming a new governing coalition. The Homeland Movement and HDZ held their first round of talks on forming a new government. Meanwhile, the SDP-led 'Rivers of Justice' coalition is still holding out hope it will be able to form the new parliamentary majority.

Why this matters: The election outcome could impact Croatia's stance on the war in Ukraine, with Milanović being critical of the EU's policies. The political uncertainty also comes as Croatia faces issues such as corruption, inflation, and labor shortages.

In a controversial move, Croatia's Constitutional Court has banned Milanović from becoming prime minister, even if his SDP wins a majority. The court warned Milanović that he would have to resign as president to become prime minister, which he ignored. Milanović and the SDP have criticized the court's decision, claiming it goes against the will of the people.

The showdown between Milanović and Plenković has dominated the election, which is seen as a test ahead of the European parliament elections in June. The official campaign for European elections has begun as the State Election Commission has published the valid slates for the June 9th poll.

In other developments, six Rafale fighter jets are set to arrive in Croatia on Thursday. MOST, another political party, lost two seats in the Croatian Parliament over an internal dispute during the drafting of its slate for the European parliament elections.

As the political maneuvering continues, Croatia faces an uncertain future. The election results have left no party with a clear path to forming a government. Milanović's call for an SDP shake-up adds another layer of complexity to the situation. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining the direction of the country, as parties negotiate potential coalitions and alliances. The people of Croatia will be watching closely to see how their elected leaders navigate this challenging period.

Key Takeaways

• Croatia's election produced no clear winner, with HDZ, SDP, and Homeland Movement vying for power.
• President Milanović calls for SDP shake-up, criticizing EU's Ukraine stance, as political uncertainty looms.
• Constitutional Court bans Milanović from becoming PM, sparking controversy over will of the people.
• Croatia faces issues like corruption, inflation, and labor shortages as parties negotiate coalitions.
• Croatia's political future remains uncertain as it prepares for European Parliament elections in June.