“The situation caused by the earthquake has left a great many people in a dire situation, so it is normal that some people are dissatisfied and that they voice their opinion and protest with a boo and a snowball. That’s all part of our job and I understand and respect this message. We heard it,” the prime minister said after the Mass.
The protest was organised by the Petrinja Spring civil initiative, whose members showered the prime minister and government officials on arrival at the church with shouts of “We want reconstruction!” and calls for faster reconstruction.
Plenković said that the government would do all in its power to help the people currently living in temporary accommodation and to speed up the reconstruction process.
During his tour of the earthquake-affected areas of Sisak-Moslavina County on Wednesday, President Zoran Milanović said that the reconstruction process was slow and that the biggest problems were poor organisation and crisis management, which he blamed on the prime minister.
“He should consult engineers and construction experts to realise the scale of the damage done and what it means to rebuild Banovina, with 40,000 structures damaged,” Plenković said in a comment on Milanović’s accusations.
“It’s not something that can be done overnight, nor would it be responsible from us to promise that this job can be done quickly. This process will take time,” Plenković said.
After the Mass, the prime minister visited people living in container homes after they were left homeless by the magnitude 6.2 earthquake on 29 December 2020.
