Vanđelić and a team of entrepreneurs founded the Republic

It has been long rumored, and now it is official: Damir Vanđelić has officially entered the Croatian political arena ahead of the super election year with his newly founded party Republic. Vanđelić was elected president of the party at today’s founding assembly, while Vesna Škare Ožbolt, Gordana Deranja, Dražen Jelavić, Dario Marenić, Marko Dražetić, and Marijo Volarević were elected as vice presidents.

– The Republic party represents a platform for all those who strive for positive change, who want the state to be a friend to all groups in society. Our mission is to create a Croatia that encourages the stay and development of its citizens. We consider it crucial to gather capable and honest people in the fight for a better tomorrow. Our focus is on economic recovery, the fight against corruption, and the improvement of public health and education, as these are the reasons why almost half a million Croats have emigrated from our country in recent decades – Vanđelić stated.

According to the program announced today, they will advocate for a 50% increase in net salaries during a four-year mandate, improving productivity, reducing costs, reforming the tax and judicial systems, and state administration.

Ožbolt announced that the Republic will register all property still registered to old socialist institutes in the Republic of Croatia within two years and establish a state real estate fund from which money will be paid into pension funds, and Croatian land will not be sold but will be given in long-term concessions.

– In state administration, the Republic will shorten the timeframes for obtaining all permits to eight days, and we will introduce artificial intelligence into the procedure so that there can be no corruption. In the judiciary, we will establish small claims courts that will make decisions immediately, shorten the duration of court proceedings, and impose a zero tolerance policy for political corruption. We will also invest money in the infrastructure of courts and state attorney’s offices and stop SLAPP lawsuits – Škare Ožbolt stated.

The economic part of the program was presented by Deranja, emphasizing that the Republic’s program in this segment is exclusively focused on one goal, which is to increase productivity and competitiveness, strengthen exports, and investments.

– By fulfilling these goals, we create real foundations for the growth of salaries and pensions, and thus a socially equitable state – Deranja noted. At the founding assembly, it was also heard that they will work on developing entrepreneurship, reducing administrative barriers, an education system tailored to the needs of the economy, and a competitive tax policy.

In addition, they will advocate for a reduction in income tax, aiming to stop the outflow of talent, while stimulating the arrival and retention of foreign students and specialists. They will also advocate for the abolition of taxes on profits reinvested in investments in research and development and new technologies.