ZAGREB, April 3, 2020 – Opposition parties said in parliament on Friday that they would support the so-called April set of measures proposed by the government to mitigate the fallout from the corona crisis, however, they criticised the government that it was late in proposing the measures.
Social Democratic Party (SDP) leader Davor Bernardić said that the proposals with the measures were put forward belatedly since thousands of people were losing their jobs.
He recalled that this strongest Opposition party suggested that the compensation for keeping workers on a company’s payroll should be 5,100 kuna instead of the government measure providing for HRK 4,000 per employee per month.
The SDP also calls for dues to be written-off rather than just being deferred, he said.
Croatian Peasant Party (HSS) leader Krešo Beljak agreed with Bernardić’s assessment that the government was late in preparing the rescue measures.
Beljak called for the immediate adoption of measures aimed at propping up businesses and farms in the agricultural sector.
“This is an opportunity for Croatia to reset itself and offset the last 30 years when foreign importers and interest groups and retail chains were given preferential treatment,” said Beljak.
Emil Daus of the Istrian Democratic Party (IDS) called for more resolute support to the agricultural sector.
Mirando Mršić of the Democrats criticised the government for addressing the problems in a non-energetic manner.
Goran Alekšić of the SNAGA party called for a ban on enforcement procedures, a moratorium on loan repayments, and for all monthly salaries to be reduce to an equal amount.
The MOST party also advocates a moratorium on loan repayments.
Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) whip Branko Bačić dismissed the accusations of the government being late in addressing the corona crisis issues. He said that on 9 January, the government set up a task force to monitor the developments considering the coronavirus epidemic in China.
On 25 January, the Croatian government introduced some measures in seaports and airports, and soon after that a crisis management team was established, Bačić said.
“The Croatian government was expedient in engaging itself in efforts to curb the epidemic, and has achieved excellent results. Only Japan has had better results than we have in coping with the crisis,” he said.
Furthermore, the rescue package aimed at propping up the economy accounts for nine percent of Gross Domestic Product, he added.
More economic news can be found in the Business section.
