Croatian People's Party (HNS) leader Ivan Vrdoljak on Tuesday condemned an announcement by Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban that "the alliance against the European Union will include Croatia too," and called on PM Andrej Plenkovic and President Zoran Milanovic to "stand in defence of a pro-European Croatia."

Vrdoljak said in a press release that “extremists, nationalists and populists like Orban want to drag the EU and Croatia backwards,” to violations of the fundamental principles of democracy, rule of law, freedom of the press and human rights.

As a liberal party that advocates a pro-European, open and tolerant Croatia, the HNS condemns Orban’s announcement that the “alliance against the EU will include Croatia too.”

“We no longer have the right to remain silent and passively observe initiatives that directly threaten the freedom of each one of us, the freedom of all EU citizens,” the press release said. It is up to the liberals to stand up in defence of common values – from freedom to humanity.

Vrdoljak called on Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic and President Zoran Milanovic and other political stakeholders in Croatia to take a clear stand on Orban’s initiative and to stand in defence of a modern and pro-European Croatia.

Underscoring that a united Europe with its democratic and economic standards is a good place for its population to live and work in, the HNS wants to say that anyone that works against it is working in the interest of others and not Europeans.