ZAGREB, (Reuters) – Croatia’s eurosceptic conservative party Hrvatski Suverenisti started a two week drive to collect signatures. This was in a bid for a referendum to decide whether or not to adopt the Euro as its currency.

Four deputies from the eurosceptic party’s 151-seat parliament and some smaller right-wing allies are needed to gather signatures from 10%, that is, around 370,000, of the electorate. In an effort to achieve this, they plan to set up 250 sites across the nation.

Andrej Pelenkovic, the prime minister of centre-right, has been working hard to make euro adoption a reality since the start of 2023.

Plenkovic believes that the adoption of the euro will remove currency risk and reduce interest rates. It also improves the country’s credit score. This would open up the door for greater investments in a tourism-dominated economy.

Eurosceptics claim that the economy is not strong enough to accept the euro, and would lead to price increases.

A July opinion poll found that just over 60% of respondents support the adoption of the common currency. It is currently used by 19 EU member countries.

A referendum would not be necessary according to the government. They argue that Croats have already accepted a single currency since they voted to join EU almost ten years back.

The referendum organizers want to hold a referendum about a Constitutional Change that would allow citizens to vote directly on the replacement of the Kuna currency.

Marijan Pavlicek told Vecernji List that she believes the people should decide on this important topic and not any prime ministers or governments.

The Constitutional Court will need to determine if the matter of the adoption of euro was resolved at the time of EU membership or whether this referendum initiative is legal if enough signatures are collected before November 7.

($1 = 6.4645 kuna)