Almost three months after the President requested his dismissal, the case of Security Intelligence Agency director has still not been solved.
There is still no indication when the issue of the director of the Security Intelligence Agency (SOA) could be resolved. A month ago, Prime Minister Tihomir Orešković and President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, after several weeks of tensions, reached an agreement on the new director, but nothing has happened since, reports tportal.hr on April 28, 2016.
Although the President and Prime Minister agreed to appoint Daniel Markić as a new director, it is necessary for Dragan Lozančić to leave his post first. The Parliamentary Committee on Internal Affairs and National Security should also give its opinion on the new director, but Committee Chairman Ranko Ostojić (SDP) so far has no intention of convening a meeting on the subject. In the meantime, he has sent a letter to the President and Prime Minister asking them what will happen with Lozančić and why is he being dismissed. “They have not replied, and Lozančić has still not resigned, as far as I know”, said Ostojić.
He will convene the meeting after he receives a response to his letter. “I will immediately put the item to the agenda when I get a confirmation that the dismissal was signed according to the law or that Lozančić has resigned himself”, said Ostojić.
The dismissal saga was started by President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović in February when she signed Lozančić’s dismissal saying that she had lost her confidence in him. However, the Prime Minister has not countersigned the dismissal, which is needed for it to become final.
Lately, the issue of the SOA director has dropped to the background. Ostojić is still waiting for a response from the President and Prime Minister, and the issue is no longer being talked about by Parliamentary Committee members.
Vice Chairman of the Committee Miroslav Tuđman (HDZ) said that the issue should finally be resolved. “But, for me, the issue is not just the personnel policy but also the concept of homeland security and whether there is an agreement between the President and the Prime Minister about the issue. Personnel decisions will depend on that”, said Tuđman.
