Croatian Democratic Union

Croatian Finance Minister Zdravko Maric could become the subject of an investigation by the Commission for Conflict of Interest Prevention after being reported for his ties with Croatia's biggest private company Agrokor, which is currently going through a financial crisis.

The Croatian coastal town of Ploce is seeking permission from the government in Zagreb to convert part of the town's now defunct military base into a location suitable for a marina with 400 berths and hotels.

Experts have given the thumbs-down to a call by Josip Djakic, an MP from the ruling Croatian Democratic Union, HDZ, for volunteers in the military to enjoy an advantage in getting jobs in the public service.

Djakic, also president of the Association of Croatian Military Handicapped of the Homeland War, on Thursday proposed the idea as a legal amendment.

Experts have given the thumbs-down to a call by Josip Djakic, an MP from the ruling Croatian Democratic Union, HDZ, for volunteers in the military to enjoy an advantage in getting jobs in the public service.

Djakic, also president of the Association of Croatian Military Handicapped of the Homeland War, on Thursday proposed the idea as a legal amendment.

The main Bosnian Croat party, the Croatian Democratic Union, HDZ, pulled off an expected victory in the heavily monitored renewed elections in the divided southwestern town of Stolac, Bosnia's Central Election Commission reported.

HDZ candidate Stjepan Boskovic was elected new-old mayor of Stolac and the HDZ also won 49 per cent of the votes for the town council. 

The Croatian defence ministry told BIRN that it is analysing options after the government the possibility of reintroducing compulsory military service, although the costs of bringing back conscription are not yet clear.

Despite its recent controversies, Croatia's anti-establishment Living Wall party is growing in popularity, which many see as evidence that Croatia is following the global trend towards more populist politics.

A poll last week conducted on 967 people by the agency Ipsos puls showed that its popularity had risen lately.

Despite media pressure, the Office of Croatian President Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic has supplied little information about the purpose of her visit to the US capital, Washington, fuelling speculation about the possible reasons.

The possible adoption of a law in Croatia banning the diplay of all totalitarian symbols, announced by Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic on Monday, carries potential risks and dangers, an expert has said.

Despite a dispute with the ruling centre-right Croatian Democratic Union, HDZ, Zagreb Mayor Milan Bandic may win the upcoming local elections in May, political analyst Zarko Puhovski told BIRN.

Reports last week suggested that the HDZ rejected Bandic's city budget proposal for 2017 in order to initiate a process to oust him.