The Political Academy represents a unique project that has been shaping the young political generation of the HDZ for almost two decades. The Academy not only provides participants with the knowledge and skills necessary for responsible participation in political life, but also promotes Christian-democratic values, a culture of dialogue, and political and social responsibility – basic requirements for a developed democratic society.
The KAS Croatia-Slovenia Office has been cooperating with the ZHDZ on the Political Academy for many years, which includes seminars, panel discussions, and workshops on communication, political analysis, and local governance. This cooperation ensures that the program remains sustainable, relevant, and continuously developed.
In addition to Dr. Norbert Eschborn, Director of the KAS Croatia-Slovenia Office, Alexander Beribes, KAS Representative for Southeast Europe–Western Balkans, also attended the event. In his address, he emphasized the significance of the Political Academy as a project that has no comparable counterpart among political competitors in Croatia or in neighbouring countries, and whose success should serve as an inspiration and model for similar programs in the region.
The participants had the opportunity to hear from distinguished speakers, including Minister of the Interior Davor Božinović, Minister of Education Radovan Fuchs, Minister of Labour Marin Piletić, as well as Members of the European Parliament Karlo Ressler and Davor Ivo Stier. Together with other representatives of KAS project partners, they took part in the panel discussion “Migration and the Labour Market.” The discussion further enriched the debate and highlighted the importance of this topic for Croatian society.
In cooperation with the ZHDZ, the KAS Croatia-Slovenia Office will continue to support this program in the future and further develop its content in order to promote responsible, informed, and values-based politics. The KAS Office is convinced that the Political Academy makes a significant contribution to Croatia’s democratic development, to empowering young people, and to fostering political culture—not only in Croatia, but also as a valuable model within the broader regional context.
