Damir Vanđelić Confirmed as Post-Earthquake Reconstruction Fund Director

After applications for the post were invited, three candidates applied and the Ministry of Physical Planning, Construction and State Assets proposed Vanđelić at today’s session of the Fund’s Steering Council and the Council accepted the proposal.

Horvat said that Vanđelić was proposed after all three candidates’ applications were analysed and they were interviewed.

Asked if the ministry had asked Vanđelić to guarantee that he would not run for Zagreb Mayor after he refused to be the ruling HDZ party’s candidate for the post and after speculation appeared that he would run as an independent candidate, Horvat said that no guarantees were mentioned and that he and the Fund’s Steering Council concluded that the Fund’s head could not do two demanding jobs at the same time.

“We gave Vanđelić the possibility to choose what he wants to do, he made his position clear and confirmed that he would not run in the coming local elections and that he would use all of his energy and competence to organise the Fund and launch the reconstruction process. We believe him and hence the decision of the Steering Council,” said Horvat.

Vanđelić: I will not run in local elections

Speaking to reporters, Vanđelić said that the purpose of the decision to choose him as the head of the Reconstruction Fund was the continuation of what had been done so far regarding the reconstruction process.

“I believe the earthquake is really the most important topic in the country, the most demanding and financially the most important. I therefore believe that the most important thing is to launch the reconstruction process and make sure it is efficient and transparent,” he said, dismissing speculation that he would run in the local elections in May as an independent candidate for Zagreb Mayor.

He recalled that he had earlier considered running for mayor, primarily as the HDZ’s candidate, and possibly as a candidate of some other parties that would back him but that he abandoned such plans in early February.

“I believe that being the head of the Fund is a more difficult and more responsible task and I believe that I am a better candidate for this job,” he said.