ZAGREB, May 26 (Xinhua) -- The largest Croatian political party, the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), adopted a new statute here on Saturday, as its leader stressed reform and the importance of the party.
"Today's convention is important because of the adoption of a new and modern party statute, and because of the confirmation that the HDZ and the Government will work hard on structural reforms, economic growth, employment growth and wage growth, always defending Croatian national interests," Croatian Prime Minister and HDZ President Andrej Plenkovic said at a convention of 5,000 party members and supporters from all over Croatia.
"The Croatian economy is growing despite the unfinished transition. Last year, for the first time, Croatia achieved a budget surplus and earned more than we spent," local news portal N1 quoted Plenkovic as saying.
He pointed out the priorities of the country: demographic revitalisation, strengthening the economy and reducing taxes, completing strategic energy and transport infrastructure projects such as the construction of a LNG terminal and the Peljesac bridge, which will be built by a Chinese consortium led by China Road and Bridge Corporation.
Plenkovic also talked about the crisis of Agrokor, the biggest private company in Croatia, saying that there was a great deal of irresponsibility by the former administration and the owner of Agrokor Ivica Todoric.
"We reacted quickly and saved the economy. Unfortunately, there have been some mistakes that I regret, but they are not strategic because the economic catastrophe is prevented," concluded Plenkovic.
Manfred Weber, the leader of the European People's Party in the European Parliament, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov and BiH Presidency member Dragan Covic, were also at the gathering in Zagreb.
The HDZ was founded on June 17, 1989 and it's first president was Franjo Tudjman, who was also the first Croatian president after the southeastern European country left Yugoslavia. Having formed eleven of the 14 Croatian governments, HDZ is an influential political party in Croatia.
