Ongoing discussions on where the new government ministries will be located.
HDZ president Tomislav Karamarko has proposed to move the Office of the President of Croatia to Banski Dvori palace, the current seat of Croatian Government, while the Office of Prime Minister and two or three Deputy Prime Ministers would move to Prisavlje Street, to the former Central Committee building of the Communist Party of Croatia (commonly called “Kockica”, which means “little cube”). Karamarko said that he had been thinking about the idea for a year and had already presented his proposal to Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović. Apparently, the President liked the proposal, particularly since relocation of the Office of the President from Pantovčak neighbourhood was one of her promises when the presidential elections took place a year ago. However, the former Communist Party headquarters is for now just one of the proposals for the new seat of Government, which means that there is a possibility that the Government could move somewhere else. At the moment, there are two ministries located at the “Kockica” – the Ministry of Transportation and the Ministry of Tourism, reports Vecernji List on January 14, 2016.
“Banski Dvori palace was the seat of President Tuđman prior to a rocket attack during the war in 1991. The top government officials could be accommodated on two floors in Kockica building”, said Karamarko, adding that as the future First Deputy Prime Minister he was not interested in working in luxurious setting of the Banski Dvori palace. His idea will be presented to future Prime Minister Orešković and their coalition partner, MOST leader Božo Petrov. Karamarko explained that the relocation of the Office of the President to Banski Dvori would not cost anything, since all necessary security conditions already exist there.
“Outgoing Prime Minister Milanović has stopped the relocation of the President when he wanted to force her to go to a palace in Visoka Street, although that location does not fulfil security requirements”, said Karamarko. He believes that former Yugoslav President Tito’s villa at Pantovčak, where the Office of the President is currently located, should be commercialized or used in some other way.
The Office of the President said they were pleasantly surprised by Karamarko’s initiative. “We appreciate the proactive approach of the future Government when it comes to relocation of the Office of the President. The idea is good and absolutely acceptable to us. However, the main criterion in the decision about relocation will be financial cost”, said Luka Đurić, a spokesman for Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović.
Former Croatian President Ivo Josipović said that the current President should not relocate her office. “Costs for renovation of ‘Kockica’ will be much higher than all the infrastructure costs at the current presidential office. The President promised during the pre-election campaign that she would relocate, so I guess she feels she has to do this. But, trying to look at it rationally, it makes no sense”, said Josipović.
