Centre (Croatian Political Party)

Centre () is a liberal political party in Croatia. The party was formed under the name ''Pametno'' () in Split in 2015 out of the citizens' initiative ''Za pametne ljude i pametan grad'' ("For smart people and a smart city"). The fundamental values endorsed by the party are the promotion of democracy, accountable and transparent management of public resources, civil proactive protection of fundamental human rights, economic development and environmental protection.

Throughout the years, Pametno grew from the local initiative into a national party with representation in the Croatian Parliament. In November 2020, following a merger with Dalija Orešković's Party with a First and Last Name, the party ''Pametno'' changed name to the ''Centre''.

History

Pametno (until 2020)

Pametno was founded in 2013 as citizens' initiative ''Za pametne ljude i pametan grad'' ("For smart people and a smart city") in the second most populous city in Croatia, Split, by computer scientist Marijana Puljak. In 2010, Puljak served as President of the Split City District of Žnjan which had around 6000 citizens. During her tenure, she achieved success by reviving social life in the district, launching the construction of a children's playground and obtaining a building permit for a new district school. In 2013, she founded the citizens' initiative, competed in the 2013 local elections and eventually, surprisingly, ended up winning 4 seats in the Split City Council.

In 2015, the citizens' initiative was transformed into a political party whose work was based on the principles of 'New people for a new policy', 'Science and education as the foundation of society' and 'Policies based on evidence'.

Pametno participated in the 2015 parliamentary election in the 10th electoral district but did not win any seats in the Parliament. It originially negotiated with the new big-tent party Bridge of Independent Lists ahead of the election, but the parties parted ways because of disagreements and Pametno ran alone. In the 2016 extraordinary parliamentary election, the Party went national as part of the two-party "Turn Croatia Around" coalition, eventually coming in 7th in term of votes won, but winning no seats in the Parliament.

At the 2017 local elections, the Party nominated Marijana Puljak as its candidate for the position of Mayor of Split. She eventually came in third and did not qualify for the second round. However, Pametno won 7 seats in the Split City Council; three more than the party had won at the previous election.

On 1 December 2017, the party was admitted into the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe as an affiliate member. As of 2024, Centre has achieved full membership status.

Centre (since 2020)

Pametno participated in the 2020 parliamentary election in a centrist coalition with relatively new parties Focus and Party with a First and Last Name (IP). Marijana Puljak was elected a member of Parliament in the 10th electoral district. After a split with Focus, newly elected MPs Puljak and Dalija Orešković (IP) formed a parliamentary club together with Anka Mrak-Taritaš, the leader of Civic Liberal Alliance (GLAS). The club became the first all-female club in history of Sabor.

In November 2020, Party with a First and Last Name and Pametno announced their merger into one party, called ''Centre''. The announcement was not well received among the Split party members at the time. Many left, including six local councilors and party founders that later founded ''Smart for Split and Dalmatia''. Formally, Pametno changed its name while IP remained as a registered party, with MP Orešković as a member of both parties, because of political funds the party would receive for their elected seat in Sabor. Orešković, Marijana Puljak, Dario Carev and Marin Račić were elected co-presidents of Centre.

At the 2021 local elections, the Party candidate for the position of the Mayor of Split was Ivica Puljak. First round he ended first while in the runoff he beat HDZ candidate Vice Mihanović. The Centre also won 7 out of 31 seats in the council, coming second. Since the 2021 nationwide local elections, the party also has city councilors in Rijeka and Bjelovar, as well as assembly members in Split-Dalmatia County, Sisak-Moslavina County and Zadar County.
In the extraordinary elections in June 2022, mayor Ivica Puljak confirmed his mandate, and 15 councilors from the Centre party entered the Split city council.

At the party's online electoral congress in November 2021, mayor Puljak was elected the new leader of the party, with Lana Pavić and Marin Račić as his vice presidents and Dalija Orešković as the political secretary. Orešković however left Centre in August 2023, due to the dispute with Puljak couple and formed Dalija Orešković and People with a First and Last Name on 8 October 2023, as a continuation of Party with a First and Last Name.

The Centre was one of the 11 left-wing and liberal opposition parties that organized the 2024 Zagreb protest. In March 2024, the party became a part of the Rivers of Justice coalition ahead of the 2024 Croatian parliamentary election. The party won two seats, with Marijana Puljak being re-elected and Dubrovnik lawyer Viktorija Knežević replacing newly elected Ivica Puljak who had suspended his mandate to focus on his duties as mayor. Since 2024, the Centre forms a joint deputy club with Independent Platform of the North.

Ideology

Centre's priorities are structural reforms, education and science, and it adheres to the values of "modern Western European countries".
The Party is secular, anti-fascist and pro-European. It opposes the Vatican agreements and the use of salute Za dom spremni. It strongly believes in civil liberties, such as the right to abortion and advancement of LGBT rights.

On economy, Centre is liberal. The party supports the free market and encourages entrepreneurship, advocating for reduction of taxes, eliminating parafiscal fees and less public administration and bureaucracy. At the same time, the party takes a social approach to education and healthcare.
One of its priorities is decentralization. Centre advocates for reducing the number of municipalities and replacing the current 20 counties of Croatia with 5 regions.

Election results

Parliament (''Sabor'')

The following is a summary of the party's results in legislative elections for the Croatian Parliament. The "Votes won" and "Percentage" columns include sums of votes won by pre-election coalitions the party had been part of. The "Seats won" column includes sums of seats won by Centre.

European Parliament

Presidential

The following is a list of presidential candidates who were endorsed by Centar.

Split local elections

City Council

See also

* Liberalism in Croatia

References

{{ELDR member parties

2015 establishments in Croatia
Political parties established in 2015
Liberal parties in Croatia
Centrist parties in Croatia
Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party member parties
Pro-European political parties in Croatia
Organizations based in Split, Croatia