War of words between First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister continues.
The issue of dismissal of ring-ranking officials in the Interior Ministry continues to raise tensions between Interior Minister Vlaho Orepić (MOST) and First Deputy Prime Minister and HDZ president Tomislav Karamarko. “I am well aware that he is the interior minister – I have read it somewhere, but being a minister bring obligations as well, and a minister should solve problems and not become a problem at some point”, said Karamarko yesterday about Orepić. He was reacting to Orepić’s recent statement that he was the minister and that he would make the decisions about possible dismissals, reports tportal.hr on March 18, 2016.
Ivan Kovačić, Member of Parliament and president of the MOST Parliamentary Group, did not want to answer whether there was a conflict. “You should ask them”, he said to journalists in the Parliament.
Miro Bulj (MOST) had this to say: “There should be no conflicts whatsoever and, in any case, everything is clear – Vlaho Orepić is the minister.” He added that he personally did not see any conflict. “If it bothers him and if sees a problem, that is his problem”, said Bulj referring to Karamarko.
In recent weeks, HDZ has repeatedly said that it was necessary for personnel changes to happen in the Interior Ministry and police. Orepić has already dismissed Mario Bertina, the head of the National Police Office for Suppression of Corruption and Organized Crime. However, although the media reported that the police director general Vlado Dominić had also been dismissed, which was confirmed by Karamarko as well, Orepić had denied it.
“I do not see any problems – we know clearly what is the authority of Mr. Karamarko in the government, and what is the authority of the Interior Minister. I support Mr. Karamarko in his assessment that, as the First Deputy Prime Minister in charge of internal affairs and national security, he must have some influence and must work closely with the Interior Minister”, said Ivan Tepeš, Deputy Speaker of Parliament and a member of the HDZ’s Patriotic Coalition.
