ZAGREB, June 30, 2019 – Croatian People’s Party (HNS) vice-president and Deputy Prime Minister Predrag Štromar said on Sunday that the HNS wanted to a meeting with Prime Minister Andrej Plenković at which it would propose the replacement of Public Administration Minister Lovro Kuščević who the party considers used political influence for personal gain.
“We concluded yesterday that we should invite Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and the HDZ to a meeting at which we will propose that Minister Lovro Kuščević be replaced. We are not insisting on his criminal liability, that is up to the relevant institutions to determine, but according to publicly available information, Kuščević most probably used his political influence for personal gain, and the HNS considers that unacceptable,” Štromar told a news conference in the northern municipality of Sveti Martin na Muri, where party members met for a conference of the HNS Political Academy.
Minister Kuščević has come under severe criticism in the media over scandals that concern his amassing of wealth and buying, repurposing and selling land at the time when he was the mayor of Nerežišća on the island of Brač.
Asked by a reporter how firm the HNS would be in its demand to the prime minister, Štromar said that he was “certain there will be enough political wisdom to make the right move.”
Asked why the HNS was insisting on Kuščević’s departure and what was the difference between him and property-related affairs involving Regional Development and EU Funds Minister Gabrijela Žalac, Agriculture Minister Tomislav Tolušić and State Assets Minister Goran Marić, Štromar repeated that Kuščević had used his political influence for personal gain.
“That can be seen in all media reports now and that makes a big difference in relation to the other ministers,” he said.
Asked about President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović and the HSLS party’s comments on the case, Štromar said briefly that he was glad “they agree with our proposal for the minister’s replacement.”
Asked if he was prepared to leave the government if the prime minister did not dismiss Kuščević, Štromar said that he was confident the prime minister would make the right move.
He also gave a brief comment on speculation that Plenković could accept a post in the EU. “If I were Prime Minister, I would be flattered by such an invitation, but I would never accept it,” he said.
Asked about the HNS’s support for a possible new prime minister-designate, Štromar said that it was a hypothetical question and that in case of such developments, the matter would first be discussed by the party bodies.
More news about HNS can be found in the Politics section.
