Official ruling of the Conflict of interest commission was published just after 2:30 PM.
Today, the attention of the Croatian media is entirely focused on Tomislav Karamarko, and the first piece of news came just after 2:30 PM on June 15, 2016, from the Conflict of Interest Commission.
Commission published its ruling for the procedure which was launched back on May 18, after documents about the business ties between Ana Karamarko and MOL’s lobbyist Petrovic were released in the media, while Croatia and MOL are in the middle of two arbitration proceedings over their relations in the INA oil and gas company as its two major stakeholders.
The Commission ruled that the First Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Karamarko was in a conflict of interest because he publicly shared his views and suggested that Croatia should pull out of the arbitration proceedings, especially during the meeting of the Cooperations council. The Commission also stated that Karamarko is in a position in which his own private interests can have an effect on his work in the Government and that he should in no way, shape or form be involved in any decision-making processes that relate to the Ina – MOL arbitration.
While explaining their decision, president of the Commission Dalija Oreskovic stated: “The Commission decided, with a majority of votes, that by publicly expressing his personal opinions, especially during the meeting of the Cooperation council of the Homeland coalition and Most, Tomislav Karamarko was in a conflict of interest according to Article 2, paragraph two, subparagraph 3 of the Prevention of Conflict of Interest Act.
Because of his personal and business relations with Jozo Petrovic, Tomislav Karamarko is in a situation where his private interests can affect his impartiality in performing the duties as the First Deputy Prime Minister and in the above mentioned possible conflict of interests according to Article 2, paragraph two, subparagraph and therefore cannot take part in the arbitrary proceedings between the Republic of Croatia and MOL or make any decisions that relate to INA.
By failing to declare that there were connections between him and Jozo Petrovic before taking office, Karamarko did not act in accordance with the obligation to preserve his integrity and the trust of Croatian citizens hence, according to Article 5, and Paragraphs 1 and 4 of the Prevention of Conflict of Interest Act, this is considered a transgression on his part”.
