SDP vice-president Zeljka Antunovic said in her opening remarks that Racan had had "a vision of a democratic and free Croatia, a country of solidarity, prosperity and equal opportunity for all its citizens." She said that Racan had invested the best years of his life in promoting "the just idea of social democracy."
"Ivica Racan was a very brave man. He was a fighter, a visionary and a reformist. He was the driving force of Croatian society. He wanted to create a democratic Croatia and take it into Europe. Ivica Racan has died, but his idea has not," President Stjepan Mesic said in his address. "Croatia has lost a champion of universal values, human freedom, justice and democracy," he added.
Former Slovene President Milan Kucan recalled that at the last congress of the Yugoslav communists Racan had made "a tough, brave and responsible decision" when, together with the Slovene delegation, he walked out of the congress "where political blindness prevailed."
Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder described Racan as "a great statesman and social democrat, a great Croat and a staunch European." He said that despite the fact that Racan was born in a Nazi labour camp his views of Germany were those of "reconciliation and openness", and added that Racan was "an architect of a modern, democratic Croatia open to the world, a stable and peaceful country, a good neighbour in a peaceful region."
Also among those attending were Prime Minister Ivo Sanader, Parliament Speaker Vladimir Seks, leaders of political parties, foreign diplomats, representatives of religious communities, public figures, Racan's family and numerous members of the public.
The stage, decked out with white lilies, was dominated by a large screen with a picture of Ivica Racan. A short film entitled "Ivica Racan: My Vision of Croatia" was shown at the start of the ceremony.
Before the ceremony, foreign delegates, representatives of political parties, Racan's friends and members of the public visited SDP headquarters to pay their respects and sign a book of condolence.
The book of condolence was signed, among others, by Hannes Swoboda, the European Parliament's rapporteur on Croatia and vice-president of the Socialist group in the European Parliament, Luis Avala, secretary-general of the Socialist International, and Marlene Haas, secretary-general of the Socialist International Women.
A delegation of the Social Democratic Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina, headed by Zeljko Komsic, a member of the country's tripartite Presidency, and Zoran Zaev, vice-president of the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia, also came to SDP headquarters to pay their tribute to Racan.