Social Democratic Party (SDP) leader Davor Bernardic on Saturday commented on the Crobarometar survey of the IPSOS agency, published on Friday, which shows a drop in voter support for the party to 14.6%, telling reporters that they should not worry about the Social Democratic Party (SDP) because it would score well in the EP election.

Bernardic made the statement while attending a convention of the SDP Women’s Forum and after he and Women’s Forum representatives released black balloons into the sky to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, November 25.

When asked if the black balloons also signified the SDP’s rating, he said: “I cannot comment on the party’s rating at a moment when we are marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.”

“Do not worry about the SDP, the SDP works and will have good results in elections for the European Parliament,” he said.

“Two surveys were published yesterday and they show diametrically opposed results, which is a bit weird. European elections will be the best test,” he added.

As for the drop in party ratings, the party could have definitely done without MPs crossing the floor to join the parliamentary majority, without those who “support the ‘For the homeland ready’ Ustasha salute, and without frequent attempts at intraparty coups,” he said.

“But rest assured, we will put things in order,” he said.

Asked if he was considering stepping down since voter support for his party had dropped to below 15% and the Human Shield party enjoyed voter support that was only 1% below the SDP’s rating, Bernardic said that the party was “entirely focused on elections for the European Parliament and on wage and pension growth in Croatia.”

Asked if he expected the party membership to again launch a procedure to replace him, he said, “We mustn’t let anything take us by surprise.”

According to the latest Crobarometar survey, the HDZ enjoys the support of 29.3% of voters, the SDP enjoys 14.6% support, the Human Shield 13.5% support, and the Bridge party is supported by 6% of the electorate.

SDP Presidency member Ivo Jelusic, Social Democrat member of the European Parliament Biljana Borzan, SDP MP Sabina Glasovac, and former SDP official Zeljka Antunovic, who attended the convention, were also asked to comment on the latest party ratings, and they all expressed concern.

“The party president is referring to a survey which shows that we enjoy 19% voter support but I believe that the SDP can’t be satisfied with either 15% or 19%. The SDP wants to assume responsibility to lead the country and those percentages are far from enabling us to move towards a better, more just and socially more sensitive society,” said Glasovac.

“If we want to settle for the Opposition, that’s fine, but I don’t think that should be the reason for political activism and that a good part of Croatia, 71% of people, think the country is moving in the wrong direction. We owe them a solution and an alternative, and that requires support much stronger than just 15% or 19%,” he said.

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