Croatia must send off a clear message against discrimination, the President of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Davor Bernardic, said while participating in the 2018 Pride parade on Saturday.

“In Croatia it is important to send a clear and loud message that nobody should be discriminated against. For me personally and for us in the SDP, everyone is equal, regardless of religion, national or gender self-determination,” Bernardic said.

“Especially today it is important to stand behind these people because in the recent months we are recording a civilizational setback in which many have shown their real faces and are trying to attack the rights of national minorities through referendum initiatives, to attack the rights of women and their reproductive rights. To attack everybody who is different in their gender choice, which is the LGBT community and we can’t allow that,” Bernardic said.

“The SDP remains the strongest barrier against this organised attack on civilization achievements Croatia has made. Unfortunately, with this act, many have revealed themselves,” he said.

“The Zivi Zid (‘Living Shield’ political party) has also signed Zeljka Markic’s initiative which attacks minority rights and they were against the Istanbul Convention. The leaders of ‘Most’ have made their position on this matter clear even earlier. So, they all are the Right and on this side only the SDP has remained to protect equal chances and equality of rights for all people regardless of their gender, religious and national choice,” Bernardic concluded.