Speaking at a party meeting in the eastern city of Osijek, Djapic said the HSP expected better results in Osijek-Baranja County than last time when it won eight seats in the county assembly.
Djapic said his party would participate in the elections on its own, but that post-election coalitions were possible with "all well-meaning parties both on the left and the right".
Over the last 14 years in Osijek the HSP "has developed into a serious, responsible and recognisable party" and "we rightly expect not just to participate in city and county governments, but also to decide who we will rule with," he said.
Noting that the economic and social situation in the county and entire eastern Croatia was "extremely difficult", Djapic said that the blame for this should not be put only on the central government, but also on local authorities, which he said must try harder to rein in unemployment and raise living standards.
"Unfortunately, a people that has no social security loses its national identity and easily falls prey to foreign and other petty politicians," the HSP leader said.