ZAGREB, December 17, 2018 – Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said on Monday that the National Security Council discussed a number of topics today – the programme of activities of security and intelligence agencies, relations with neighbouring countries, the migration issue, information security – adding that there was also mention of “the text messages affair” but that no individual names were discussed.
“We can say that this issue was also mentioned and in two ways: First, that light needs to be shed on the affair all the way and second, that all those involved in information leaking, and they are part of the police or other prosecution systems, must be held responsible,” Plenković told a news conference.
Plenković said that “no names have been mentioned,” “only models for resolving situations like this one.” Asked if the text messages scandal was dragging for too long, the prime minister said that “any topic as complex and as sensitive as this one requires time.”
Asked about his opinion now, given that in the past he said that “it seems that the situation is getting worse by the day,” Plenković said he stood by his statement.
Asked to comment on announcements of a further expansion of Zagreb Mayor Milan Bandić’s parliamentary group and media speculations that Bandić’s new MPs would not be from the ranks of the Social Democrats (SDP), Plenković said he knew nothing about that. Bandić’s parliamentary group has announced that it will have 13 MPs by the end of the year and 16 MPs next year.
MPs who left the HDZ parliamentary group should have never been there in the first place, Plenković said.
Plenković reiterated that the HDZ had not talked to anyone and that the question of why “some people are leaving the SDP, because that party is falling apart and they no longer see the point of them staying with the party, should be directed at the SDP,” Plenković said.
The fact that they want to support the majority is their choice and we will not stop anyone from supporting the work of the government, Plenković said. He declined to comment on media headlines about a change of coalition partners and a government reshuffle.
Commenting on alleged police brutality against migrants, Plenković said this case was very well clarified by the Interior Ministry. “This is something called the institute of returning people at the very state border, where authorities see people in attempts to illegally cross the border, Plenković said.
More news on the text messages affair can be found in our Politics section.
