Croatian PM Plenkovic to run in the EU elections

(ANSA) - ZAGREB, MAY 28 - Croatia, where European elections will take place on June 9 for the third time since the country's accession to the EU in July 2013, will elect its 12 MEPs in an atmosphere of "fatigue" as general elections occurred on April 17, with the victory of Andrej Plenković's conservatives.
    The first phase of the election campaign was overshadowed by the complex and controversial negotiations for the formation of the third government of Plenković, leader of the Democratic Union of Croatia (HDZ). HDZ belongs to the European People's Party (EPP). To remain in power, the HDZ had to open the doors of the cabinet to the nationalist and sovereignist right-wing Patriotic Movement which has called for a series of very conservative limitations on LGBT rights and the exclusion of the Serbian minority from the majority and the government for the first time in more than two decades.
    Only a few days ago, European issues began to loom on the public scene, with Premier Plenković deciding to be his party's leader, breaking with the tradition that leaders of National parties do not run for the European Parliament.
    For now, the HDZ tactic is working as the polls give the party 30 percent and five seats in the European parliament, one more than five years ago. The Social Democratic Party (SDP), belonging to the PSE family, would win 25 percent, the same percentage as in the parliamentary elections, resulting in four MEPs. The Greens of Možemo! (We can!) should pass the five percent threshold, with their electoral base concentrated in Zagreb: they should gain 10 percent and one seat.
    The sovereignists of the Patriotic Movement saw their electoral consensus lowering, now around seven percent, after they entered the government of their traditional opponent Plenković, a government more shifted to the right but still on a pro-European line. Below five percent would remain the liberals, centrists, and several minor right-wing parties. (ANSA).