ZAGREB, January 15, 2018 – Prime Minister and Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) chief Andrej Plenkovic said Monday there were no “turmoils” in the party, stressing he did not see any particular dissatisfaction in the Lika-Senj branch of the HDZ.
“There were no turmoils. They were more present in comments than in the party,” Plenković told the press after a session of the HDZ Presidency and the party’s National Council, when asked if the session focused on “political turmoils” that shook the party over the past several weeks.
These questions were prompted by the HDZ’s Presidency and National Council’s decision to dissolve the Lika-Sen County branch of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) on January 6. The party decided that the local HDZ leader Darko Milinović would continue performing the duty of the County Prefect, whereas Pozega-Slavonia County head Alojz Tomasević (HDZ), charged with domestic violence, was given a deadline until 15 January to resign.
Everything functioning normally:
Commenting on the situation in Pozega-Slavonia County involving Prefect Tomasević, Plenković said the prefect did not resign but that a Court of Honor of the HDZ last week unconditionally expelled Tomasević from the party, saying that he harshly violated the obligation of HDZ membership.
“Everything else is functioning absolutely normally. We are dealing with these situations and we are making very clear decisions and (sending clear) messages to our members,” Plenković said.
Croatia would like Bosnia to change election legislation
Asked if it was time for Croatia to change its policy towards Bosnia and Herzegovina, as now everyone was “buried in trenches” from which no progress can be made, Plenkovic said Croatia supported Bosnia and Herzegovina, its reform efforts and European journey.
Commenting on Bosnia’s election legislation, Plenković said Croatia would like to see changes to it which would guarantee legitimate representation of all constituent peoples in the country’s tripartite presidency or in the House of Peoples. He however said that decisions must be made within Bosnia’s institutions and with the political will of the parties in that country.
He said it was a good thing that Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović was travelling to Bosnia on Tuesday to send clear messages of friendship, but also to express interest in seeing the Croat people gain the equal status as the other two peoples in the country.
Asked if conditions have been created to resolve outstanding issues with Serbia regarding Croatia’s territory on the other side of the Danube River, Plenković said Croatia’s position on that was very clear — Croatia recognises the borders recorded on 25 June 1991 and cadastral borders. Plenković added that dialogue with Serbia would continue.
He once again extended his best wishes on the 26th anniversary of Croatia’s international recognition and the 20th anniversary of the peaceful reintegration of the Danube River region.
