Those elections will be a litmus test for parliamentary elections, said Tomislav Karamarko.
"This is a fight for Croatia's character and future. Will we let the socialist idea pass, as if nothing happened in the 90s?" he said, reiterating that the HDZ and Croatia's first President, Franjo Tudjman, deserved the most credit for the creation and defence of Croatia.
"We regret the actions of some individuals from our ranks whose corrupt activities shook society, who betrayed the defenders who had given their lives (as we as) HDZ members and all citizens who deserved an honest government," Karamarko said, reiterating that those things were behind the HDZ and that he would not allow the criminalisation of the party or the imposition of collective responsibility.
"We drove out foul dealings from the party and restored patriotism and honesty. This is the formula of (other parties') failure and our success."
Karamarko said the ruling SDP was incapable of running the state, adding that 70,000 people had lost their jobs since the coalition came to power and that VAT and electricity and gas prices had gone up.
He said the HDZ must finally assume responsibility and that it would fight for better institutions, support citizens and the economy, and cut taxes.
He underlined the importance of Croatian emigrants and Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina, urging the leaders of the two Bosnian HDZ parties, HDZ BiH and HDZ 1990, to unite.