Presidential candidate Miroslav Skoro said on Sunday he would lead a movement that would end fear across the country and that Croatia would celebrate December 22, the date of the presidential election, in unity as there would be no runoff.

Speaking at a rally in Zagreb under the slogan “Now or never!”, Skoro said that December 22 will be the first step in “giving the state back to the people.”

He said he would win because the people and proud and strong war veterans were behind him and thanks to the unity of Croats at home and in the diaspora.

He said the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) party from 30 years ago, when the Croatian state was being created, has nothing in common with today’s HDZ. Prime Minister and HDZ leader Andrej Plenkovic and President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic do not have the strength needed for change, he said.

“I’ll be independent of any political, business or private interests. No one will be able to call me and tell me what to do. I will be accountable only to the people and if they give me a thumbs down, I will leave on my own accord, you won’t have to push me away,” he said.