I was expelled from HSS, not left; new leadership hasn't spoken to me about return

Marijana Petir, a prominent Croatian politician and independent member of parliament, clarified that her departure from the Croatian Peasant Party (HSS) was an expulsion, not a resignation. She stated that the party's new leadership has not engaged in any discussions with her regarding a potential return.

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I was expelled from the HSS because I disagreed with the way the then-leadership was running it. That is an important distinction.

Petir, who previously served in the European Parliament and the Croatian Parliament, maintains that she did not leave the HSS. "I was expelled from the HSS because I disagreed with the way the then-leadership was running it. That is an important distinction," she said. As an independent lawmaker, she believes any initiative for her return should come from the current HSS leadership.

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The values on which the HSS was founded have not disappeared with my expulsion from the party, and they are still part of my political work today.

She affirmed that the values on which the HSS was founded remain integral to her political work. "The values on which the HSS was founded have not disappeared with my expulsion from the party, and they are still part of my political work today," Petir stated. She added that discussions about rejoining the party, if there is interest, should not be conducted through the media.

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Discussions about rejoining the party, if there is interest, should not be conducted through the media.

Petir, who was elected to parliament on the HDZ party list but serves as an independent, also commented on broader political issues. She addressed the necessity of foreign labor in Croatia, the importance of integrating immigrants, and criticized aspects of European policies, particularly concerning the green transition and the future of the Common Agricultural Policy. She also called for immediate remediation of waste in Lika and the prosecution of those responsible for illegal waste disposal, labeling it an "ecocide."

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I call for the immediate remediation of waste in Lika, in full compliance with the law, and for the identification and sanctioning of all responsible for this ecocide.