HSLS Leader Addresses Party Rift Over State Secretary's Pride Participation

Internal discord has emerged within Croatia's Croatian People's Party – Liberal Democrats (HSLS) following the participation of State Secretary in the Ministry of Interior, Nevenka Lastrić-Đurić, in the recent Zagreb Pride event. Lastrić-Đurić attended the 25th Pride Parade, themed "Our Families Are Families," wearing a Croatian football jersey and stating, "Croatia is big enough for all its colors," and that "Croatia is strongest when the majority protects the minority and when we build a society of mutual respect."

Her presence and statements quickly drew a sharp reaction from Mirko Budiša, the deputy president of the HSLS. In a press release, Budiša distanced himself and the party from Lastrić-Đurić's attendance and public statements, characterizing her participation as her "personal political action." He stated he "sharply and fully distances himself from the presence, statements, and declarations" of the State Secretary at Pride.

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Unutarstranačke stvari treba rješavati unutar stranke, a ne putem medija. Zaštita manjina dio je identiteta HSLS-a od samog početka i tako će i ostati. Sve što kolege žele raspraviti, moći će kao i do sada raspraviti na tijelima stranke. U subotu imamo Predsjedništvo i Središnje vijeće stranke.

Party president Dario Hrebak has since addressed the controversy, emphasizing that internal party matters should be resolved through internal channels, not the media. Hrebak affirmed that "minority protection is part of the HSLS's identity from the very beginning and will remain so." He announced that any issues colleagues wish to discuss will be addressed at party bodies, including the upcoming Presidency and Central Council meetings.

Budiša had previously criticized what he perceived as a shift in the party's direction, warning that the HSLS should not become a "political copy of left-wing liberal parties." He also suggested that the party's name and position were being used for "personal activism and interest," while still affirming support for a discrimination-free society and respect for individual rights. Hrebak's intervention aims to manage the internal conflict and reaffirm the party's stance on minority rights.

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oštro i u potpunosti ograđuje od prisustva, istupa i izjava