Tihomir Orešković’s team is the first Croatian government in the last fifteen years which does not include a deputy prime minister for economy and investments. While new Deputy Prime Ministers Tomislav Karamarko and Božo Petrov still do not have officially established briefs, it is expected that Karamarko will cover internal security and defence issues while Petrov will deal with social affairs.
The coalition partners have agreed that the most important decisions will be coordinated by the Cooperation Council, but it seems that Orešković will need a high-level operative who will coordinate all departments and provide support for the implementation of major investment projects, which is one of the main stated goals of the new Croatian government.
That is the reason why HDZ has reportedly already launched an initiative to introduce the post of Deputy Prime Minister for Investments. Possible candidates being mentioned are Damir Vanđelić, the investment director of the Adris Group and a member of the Homeland Security Council of Croatian President, and Domagoj Milošević, who already held the position during the last part of Jadranka Kosor’s government five years ago. Although investments should be the focus of Orešković’s government, in addition to the public debt issue, the new investment promotion system has not yet been presented.
Before the new government was formed, some of the new ministers said that the current Agency for Investments and Competitiveness should be abolished. Agency Director Damir Novinić hopes that the new government will recognize the need to keep the Agency as an operational institution for investments, but shares the opinion that there should be a person in the government in charge of investments.
“Everything that Orešković has said so far gives us the right to expect that he will know what to do about it”, said Novinić. Asked why it was important to have not only an agency but also a person in charge of investments in the government, he explained that the agency provides operational support, communicates with investors and guides them through all the regulations, institutions and permits which have to be obtained.
On the other hand, a deputy prime minister has political authority and influence on other ministries, which the agency does not. According to current operational structure, investments are under the authority of the Ministry of Economy. The new head of the Ministry is Tomislav Panenić from MOST, which is most likely another reason why some in HDZ push for the addition of third deputy prime minister.
