Prime Minister Plenković comments on political events.
Prime Minister and HDZ president Andrej Plenković said on Friday that the possibility of cooperation between HDZ and SDP at the national level was “still far away,” suggesting that people should “concentrate on the upcoming local elections on 21 May and the prosperity of all citizens of Croatia,” adding that the politics at the national level would be discussed after local elections, reports Večernji List on May 12, 2017.
Plenković attended the presentation of HDZ candidates in local elections in Dugo Selo, and was asked by journalists to comment on MOST’s position that it was possible for the two parties to again cooperate, provided that Plenković and other HDZ leaders leave their posts. The Prime Minister reiterated that his co-operation with ministers from MOST in the cabinet was good and that he would not criticize his colleagues. “I suggest that everyone should concentrate on topics that are important for local elections, the principle of subsidiarity, and the good of all people throughout Croatia,” he added.
He said that the situation at the national level would be discussed after the local elections and reminded that HDZ had made three decisions – to terminate cooperation with MOST because they supported SDP’s initiative to recall the Finance Minister, to talk with other parliamentary parties about a ruling coalition reconstruction, and that, if these talks do not end with an agreement, new parliamentary elections would be held.
Asked whether it was possible, if early parliamentary elections were held, for HDZ and SDP to enter into a grand coalition, Plenković said: “We are far from that. You are now talking about the fourth step,” he said.
On Thursday, the government approved 5 million kuna for investigations at Agrokor and journalists asked Plenković whether it was a sort of pressure being exerted on the judiciary. The Prime Minister denied it and explained that the State Attorney’s Office had requested additional funds from the government. “State Attorney Dinko Cvitan wrote a letter to the government,” said Plenković, adding that authorities “in a serious, organized state, a member of the EU and NATO,” do not interfere with the work of the judiciary.
In view of the statement by Ante Ramljak, the government-appointed extraordinary commissioner in Agrokor, that certain politicians knew about the crisis in the company in December and January, reporters asked the Prime Minister whether he had any information. Plenković said he had no knowledge about Agrokor’s finances. “And did anybody else know? That is possible. But, I was not informed by any service or institution, and I could not know it,” he said.
With regards to potential lawsuits of Agrokor’s creditors against Croatia, given the adoption of the Law on Extraordinary Administration, better known as “Lex Agrokor,” the Prime Minister said that the legal framework was “very solid and of high quality.”
