The decision could determine the political future of HDZ president.
The Commission for Conflict of Interest Prevention decided on Wednesday to launch proceedings in the case of First Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Karamarko to determine whether there is a conflict of interest due to business relationship between his wife Ana and his friend Josip Petrović, who is an advisor to the Hungarian oil company MOL, reports Večernji List on May 18, 2016.
The final decision will be announced at one of the following sessions after the Commission determines whether the official violated the provisions or principles concerning the conflict of interest. The Commission will examine whether Karamarko participated in any decision-making related to the arbitration proceedings being conducted between Croatia and MOL, whether he could find himself in the conflict of interest in the future and whether he failed to disclose this business relationship.
Before the decision is made, Karamarko can explain his case before the members of the Commission, and a statement will be requested from Petrović, said Davorin Ivanjek, the committee member who will be the lead on this case.
First Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Karamarko said in Parliament on Wednesday that he was not in conflict of interest and called on everybody to wait for the decision of the Commission for Conflict of Interest Prevention. “All these things they talk about, INA, MOL etc., these are incredible things and I do not know what to say. I do not want to comment, I have initiated the procedure before the Commission, and then we will talk more about it”, said Karamarko. “I am not in a conflict of interest, I could say it now but I do not want to put pressure on the Commission, as some have tried”, added Karamarko.
He dismissed claims made by SDP president Zoran Milanović that he harmed national interest. “As for inflicting harm to national interests, let us start with SDP’s Prime Minister Račan and finish with Milanović’s government which also did some strange things in relation to INA and Hungary. There are quite a few scandals from Milanović’s time which have simply disappeared, and here a scandal is being made out of nothing”, said Karamarko. “I am interested in interests of Croatia, but not in the interests of SDP, Zoran Milanović, and his satellites”, said Karamarko.
Journalists were interested whether there were any other companies his wife was cooperating with. “What should members of my family do, wait for me at home and watch me on TV? We are talking about entrepreneurship, about six or seven people who should be fired now because someone is publishing contracts which should not be published, contracts between private companies. It is an absurd situation, we should let it go”, said Karamarko.
