Davor Matijević Departs SDP After 17 Years

The news in Croatian

1. napustiti
   Prestati biti dio nečega; otići odnekud. ↩︎
2. neovisan
   Koji nije pod utjecajem drugih, koji je slobodan. ↩︎
3. vijećnik  (m.)
   Osoba koja je član vijeća. ↩︎
4. kritizirati
   Izraziti neslaganje ili nezadovoljstvo. ↩︎
5. savez  (m.)
   Udruženje dviju ili više strana za postizanje zajedničkog cilja. ↩︎
6. uvjerenje  (n.)
   Čvrsto mišljenje o nečemu, što se smatra istinom. ↩︎

Translation

Text comprehension

Question 1: What will Davor Matijević be doing after leaving SDP?

Question 2: Why did Davor Matijević criticize the SDP?

Vocabulary

Croatian	English
napustiti	to leave
neovisan	independent
vijećnik  (m.)	councillor
kritizirati	to criticise
savez  (m.)	alliance
uvjerenje  (n.)	belief

Read the full story

Davor Matijević, a well-known figure in Croatian politics, has announced his departure from the Social Democratic Party (SDP) after a dedicated membership lasting 17 years. In a detailed statement shared on his social media, Matijević expressed his intention to continue serving in the Split City Council as an independent councillor, maintaining his commitment to championing the interests of his city.

Throughout his political career, Matijević has been a prominent figure in Split’s local politics, having served as the first SDP president of his district and achieving significant election victories. He reflected on his substantial contribution to establishing the SDP’s influence in the city’s political landscape. His decision to run for mayor of Split in 2022, despite initial reluctance, marked a pivotal moment for the party’s survival in local governance.

However, tensions have arisen within the SDP, particularly concerning their partnership with the Centre Party. Matijević has openly criticised this alliance, alleging that the Centre systematically targeted him with frequent and public attacks, which, he claims, were compounded by a lack of support from his own party. He described a sense of political isolation after the Centre recruited one of their local councillors, leaving him as the lone SDP representative in the council.

Matijević further highlighted a string of personal attacks he faced from political rivals, which included accusations and rumors intended to disrupt his public image. These confrontations, he noted, were met with passive observation from the SDP leadership, which, according to him, preferred to focus on broader strategic alliances over defending their own members.

The decision to leave SDP, Matijević explains, stemmed from this perceived inaction and the impending disciplinary actions against a fellow member, which he viewed as unjust. He strongly affirmed his commitment to political independence and his unwillingness to compromise his principles for strategic gains.

In his farewell address, Matijević conveyed gratitude towards supportive party colleagues and emphasized his focus on local rather than national politics, underlining that his dedication has always been to Split rather than the broader political maneuverings in Zagreb. Despite his departure, he remains firm in his opposition role, vowing to persist in advocating the values he has long championed.

This departure signals a notable shift in the local political landscape, with Matijević openly inviting the SDP to “grow and flourish” without him, while reassuring his constituents of his continued independent representation and principled stand in the city council.

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