ZAGREB, February 26, 2020 – Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said on Wednesday the parliamentary majority was stable despite disputes over the population census law and Sunday work, and that he was confident it would see its term through.
“It’s not an issue which would destabilise the majority. I think the matter was agreed to last week already. Tomorrow I will convene the parliamentary majority and we’ll discuss that too,” he told reporters who asked him if he had talked with ethnic minority MPs about the census law after the rejection of their amendments to it.
Plenković said the parliamentary majority could not be destabilised by the debate on Sunday work either. The Croatian People’s Party, the coalition partner of his HDZ, is against banning it.
“Despite everything, no matter how much someone tries, it won’t happen. The term will be carried out until the end as it should,” he said, adding that those advocating a snap election should know that “political stability is necessary for Croatia and its economy, institutions, democracy, employment, salary growth in the public and state sectors, higher pensions. Those who don’t understand that are politically illiterate and irresponsible.”
Plenković also commented on the resignation of Chief State Prosecutor Dražen Jelenić after it was discovered that he is a member of a Masonic organisation, saying Jelenić did his job fairly and professionally.
He would not comment on possible disciplinary procedures against Jelenić. He said it was important to him that the integrity of the State Prosecutor’s Office remain beyond question and that this was why he told Jelenić that it would be appropriate for him to resign. Plenković said it was common sense for someone to say they were a member of an organisation, notably when taking one of the most important positions in the judicial system.
“I don’t think Jelenić did anything illegal or that he compromised his work. He worked professionally and by the law, but this circumstance brought him into an untenable situation in that position.”
Plenković also said that he had not talked with President Zoran Milanović yet about extending the term of Security and Intelligence Agency (SOA) chief Daniel Markić, which expires in May. “We’ll talk. Markić has my full confidence. If he wants to continue to run SOA, he will.”
More politics news can be found in the dedicated section.
