Day 7 of the government crisis.
After a day full of statements and accusations on Tuesday, Wednesday brings us a debate on the opposition’s motion of no confidence against Finance Minister Zdravko Marić. At this moment, it is still not clear when the vote will take place, but it is expected it might happen on Thursday. That will be the first in a series of votes which should demonstrate whether HDZ is able to form a new parliamentary majority or not.
The opposition needs to gather 76 MPs to vote against Marić in order for him to be dismissed. It is quite likely that some of the MPs will abstain from voting or not show up in Parliament when the voting takes place, and in that way decline to support both the opposition and the government.
Another vote which might happen this week is the vote on HDZ’s motion to dismiss the current Parliament Speaker Božo Petrov, who is also the leader of MOST, HDZ’s now former coalition partner. Since the motion has the support of some of the opposition’s MPs, there is little doubt that it will pass, but the key question is when it will be put to a vote. HDZ wants that to happen as soon as possible, in order for one of its deputy speakers to take over as interim speaker, while Petrov himself has said that he will not allow the vote to take place before it is clear whether the new parliamentary majority exists.
This article is going to be updated through the day with the latest developments.
18.00
There are many more MPs who want to take part in the debate, which will probably last until late in the evening.
15.30
According to media reports, President Kolinda Grabar Kitarović will meet with representatives of political parties to discuss the latest events this Friday.
14.30
Gordan Maras (SDP) claims that there are currently 77 MPs ready to vote for the dismissal of the Finance Minister. However, he accepts that some of them might change their minds before Thursday morning.
14.00
President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović visited the “Colonel Marko Živković” military barracks near Zagreb. While there, she was asked to comment on the latest events in the Parliament, but she refused to give a statement.
13.10
SDP president Davor Bernardić, “I am absolutely sure I can count on the support of all SDP’s MPs.” He did not want to comment on statements made by SDP’s Deputy Speaker Milanka Opačić that she might not vote. “I am absolutely sure that everyone in SDP will vote tomorrow in the interest of the Croatian people, in the interests of responsibility, and not in their personal interest.” said Bernardić.
13.05
The vote on the motion of no confidence against Minister Marić is expected to take place on Thursday morning.
13.00
Živi Zid MPs will vote against Finance Minister Marić and are ready to support the dissolution of the Parliament. Party leader Ivan Vilibor Sinčić said that their coalition partners, MPs Lovrinović and Škibola, were certainly against Marić and that there was no chance that HDZ has the majority.
12.30
Three of MOST’s dismissed ministers, former Administration Minister Ivan Kovačić, former Interior Minister Vlaho Orepić and former Environmental Protection Minister Slaven Dobrović, have submitted their requests to return to the Parliament. The only dismissed minister who will not continue as an MP is former Justice Minister Ante Šprlje, who was not a candidate in the parliamentary elections.
11.30
Finance Minister Marić:
“I did not expect I would ever have to say this. I dismiss all the allegations against me, especially that I have favoured anyone. The only connection between me and Agrokor is the stability of the economic system. I do not have a contract to return to Agrokor, I do not have shares. Nobody from my family has anything to do with Agrokor. I received financial reports after they were finished. I am proud of everything. For myself and especially for my family, I dismiss all the unfounded allegations.”
11.20
Prime Minister Plenković:
“Today, we have another motion of no confidence against one of my ministers. SDP president Bernardić did not quote a single line from his written motion submitted to the government. There are four points being mentioned against Marić. One is an alleged conflict of interest, the second is giving a loan to Agrokor, the third is a loan from a few years ago which Marić received while he was a state secretary, and the fourth is an allusion that he favoured Agrokor.
First about Marić. He is a man who has my confidence. He also served in Orešković’s government. Petrov was also a member of that government, just like Šprlje, Dobrović, and Orepić.
The government is not a debate club where people come in their free time, discuss something and everybody states their opinion. There may be different positions in the government, but some issues are about trust, loyalty, humanity. You cannot sit in the same government and then, when it comes to the SDP’s motion, vote for someone’s dismissal. That is not going to happen in my government.”
11.00
The debate is in progress. MPs are trading accusations and insults.
10.15
The debate on the motion of no confidence against Finance Minister Marić is in progress.
10.00
Prime Minister Plenković has arrived in the Parliament. When asked about the possibility of early parliamentary elections, he said, “I have not heard anything about it.”
9.50
HSS president Krešo Beljak says that he had a meeting with the Prime Minister and that he would vote against everybody, but that he did not support new elections.
9.40
Ivica Mišić, Member of Parliament:
“I have given my signature of support to HDZ’s candidate for Speaker Gordan Jandroković. I want the government to continue working. If there are new elections, we will find ourselves in a similar situation again. MOST has demonstrated that it is a party of destruction. I don’t think the Finance Minister Marić is guilty. I know as a businessman who was the boss in the company – Ivica Todorić.”
9.30
Ivan Lovrinović (Let’s Change Croatia), one of the key MPs for possible coalition reshuffle:
“HDZ and MOST could not agree on anything: INA, energy reforms, curricular reform… There was a lot of irrationality in that relationship. I am in favor of stability and will do everything I can not to contribute to instability. I will not support Finance Minister Zdravko Marić, Speaker Božo Petrov, or HDZ’s candidate for next Speaker Gordan Jandroković.”
9.00
Nikola Grmoja (MOST):
“MOST is ready for the dissolution of the Parliament. You should ask other parties whether they are ready. It is better to have new elections, because the new government which Plenković is now trying to form would be much more expensive than elections.”
07.30
Two rightwing independent MPs, Bruna Esih and Željko Glasnović, have announced they will not support HDZ’s attempt to form a new ruling majority. This is a surprising blow to Prime Minister Plenković, given that both are considered to be close to HDZ and Esih was even elected to Parliament as an independent candidate on HDZ’s candidate list. They explained that on Tuesday evening they met with the Prime Minister to discuss their support, but Plenković refused to guarantee them that the new government would not include ministers from HNS (liberals), IDS (Istrian regional party), or SDSS (main party of the Serb national minority). They said they would not vote for HDZ’s candidate for new Speaker (in case that Petrov is dismissed), but it is not clear how they will vote on the motion of no confidence against Minister Marić. It is unlikely they would support SDP’s motion, so it is expected they might abstain from that vote.
