Ivan Penava, president of the right-wing Homeland Movement (DP), which is in power in Croatia with HDZ, announced that he will run for president of the party in the early intra-party elections called for August 31 and stated that he would like to see as many candidates as possible.
Regular intra-party elections were scheduled to take place in 2025, but Penava said at a press conference yesterday that August 31 is the best time for elections, claiming that party leaders are aware of this decision.
He said that the intra-party elections come after parliamentary and European elections in which DP confirmed itself as the third political force in Croatia, as well as before the presidential elections, which, he said, are not currently in focus for DP, as well as local elections scheduled for May next year.
Regarding his relationship with the party official Mario Radić, who is referred to in public as the true head of DP, Penava claims to have a good relationship with him.
He also said that he does not know if Radić or anyone else will run for party leader, but he would like to see as many candidates as possible.
Speaking about the current relationships within the party, he said that DP has three ministers, eight state secretaries, a deputy prime minister, as well as a member of the European Parliament, which, he said, confirms the quality work within the party, as reported in Croatian media.
Penava is a former member of HDZ, a party he left due to disagreements with the then and current party leader and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković.
Penava is also the mayor of Vukovar, which will be remembered for opposing the introduction of Cyrillic into official use in Vukovar.
In his statement, Penava emphasized the importance of the upcoming intra-party elections in order to strengthen the party and continue its successful work within Croatia. He also expressed his desire to see a diversity of candidates participating in the elections, highlighting the importance of democracy within the party.
The announcement of Penava’s candidacy for party president has sparked interest and discussion within DP, with many members expressing their support for his candidacy. The decision to hold early intra-party elections has been met with mixed reactions, with some members questioning the timing of the elections and others expressing enthusiasm for the opportunity to participate in the democratic process.
Overall, Penava’s announcement signals a new chapter for DP, as the party prepares for leadership changes and seeks to strengthen its position as a major political force in Croatia. With the upcoming intra-party elections set to take place on August 31, all eyes will be on DP as they navigate this important transition period.
