Six prominent members of the opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP) have not had their membership renewed following membership reviews in the party's Zagreb and Slavonski Brod branches, state agency Hina "learned unofficially."

The members in question are: MP and former cabinet minister Rajko Ostojic, MPs and former secretaries-general Zvane Brumnic and Nikša Vukas, MP Marina Opacak-Bilic from Slavonski Brod, who was involved in a financial scandal, former head of the Zagreb branch Gordan Maras, and Tihomir Barisic, “best man to former party leader Davor Bernardic.”

“The reasons for their expulsion are of a political nature. They were told that people who did damage to the party or refused to take an active part in recent local elections could not keep their membership cards,” Hina said, without citing any source.

With these decisions, the SDP has been left without four MPs and now holds 28 seats in the 151-seat parliament. “The question is whether there will be more expulsions and how Bernardic will react, given that these are mainly his associates,” Hina asked rhetorically.

“According to unofficial sources, the six expelled members were called by SDP leader Pedja Grbin to tell them that their membership would not be renewed,” Hina said.

After the membership review in Zagreb, it is estimated that of the previous 4,000 members about 1,700 are left now, as members who could not be contacted or have not paid their membership fees for more than a year have also been expelled.

Writing in a Facebook post, Maras said that he would “never sell his views” to win anyone’s favours. “What matters the most to me is you who support me without any interest and just because you know that I am OK. There are stages in life and nothing happens without a reason. I believe I did not let you down,” Maras said in a message to his followers.