Plenkovic: Election victory is huge obligation

"Such support by a majority of Croatian voters is a huge obligation for us and we will take it into account every day over the next four years. We'll take it into account because Croatia needs solutions for the economy, public health challenges, for strengthening democracy, strengthening institutions, strengthening human rights, minority rights," Plenkovic said in his address to enthusiastic HDZ members.

Croatia needs a government which will pursue a new modern sovereignism policy, which cultivates the values of the HDZ, of our first president Franjo Tudjman, because in recent years we have put the HDZ in the part of the political spectrum where he always put it and always wanted it, he added.

"This transformation was supported both in intra-party elections and today's parliamentary election. That's why we know we are on the right track both for Croatia's values and progress."

Plenkovic thanked everyone for the result and the HDZ's victory today, including voters.

"Whether they gave (the vote) to us, who have won the majority confidence, whether they gave it to some other parties they felt have the best solutions for Croatia. That's what democracy is, an expression of the people's will on which course Croatia should take."

He said this victory was an obligation "because we had a difficult term, full of temptations, and the challenges ahead are likely to be more difficult."

Such circumstances demand work, energy, enthusiasm, drive and dedication, he added. "They also demand responsibility, knowledge and experience. We tried to synthesise all that in our platform and in our candidates."