HSLS Leadership Member Resigns, Cites Party Divisions and President's Actions

Gabriela Bošnjak has resigned from the Presidency of the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS), expressing deep dissatisfaction with the party's current trajectory and leadership. While stepping down from the presidential role, Bošnjak affirmed her continued commitment to the HSLS, stating she will remain a party member and president of the Zagreb branch as long as the membership supports her.

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I have no political ambitions stronger than such a function for the time being. In fact, with age, less and less. I am driven by ideals and values. Freedom, acceptance, love for diversity, for man and the world. Free market. Condemnation of both left and right totalitarianism.

In a social media post, Bošnjak emphasized that her political future lies exclusively within the HSLS, a party whose values she believes align with her own. She invoked the legacies of past party leaders like Vlado Gotovac and Dražen Budiša, whose ideals, she said, have profoundly shaped her political and personal journey. Bošnjak previously served as a representative in the City Assembly of Zagreb, a position she put on hold in June.

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The reason for my resignation is the great injustice that has been done to my dear, historical party for a long time, which has escalated in recent days through media disputes between my party colleagues about the alleged split between the left and right within the HSLS.

The primary reason for her resignation, Bošnjak explained, is the perceived injustice and escalating internal conflict within the party. She specifically pointed to recent media disputes among colleagues regarding alleged divisions between left and right factions. Bošnjak expressed concern that party leader Dario Hrebak has, for reasons unknown to her, begun publicly naming and encouraging these divisions.

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In the HSLS as I know it, there were no such petty, yet indeed 'deep' divisions, until our president Dario Hrebak, for reasons unknown to me, started naming and invoking them aloud within the party. Whether he did it intentionally and with intent, I don't know.

Bošnjak linked this internal strife to issues that have surfaced since the affair involving Josip Dabro. She feels she can no longer support a leader who, in her view, is contributing to the party's fragmentation. Her resignation signals a significant internal challenge for the HSLS, highlighting tensions over its direction and leadership.

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That story has been going on since before the situation with Dabro until today, when I decided that I can no longer support a president who...