The long overdue decision finally made?
After the State Attorney’s Office announced on Wednesday that Alojz Tomašević, HDZ’s Prefect of Požega-Slavonia County, had been officially indicted for domestic violence, he said that he had no comment and would give no statements at this time, reports Jutarnji List on January 4, 2018.
However, unofficial sources from HDZ leadership say that Tomašević, after being indicted for domestic violence and causing injuries, should resign as county prefect, which would be in line with the recommendations of the party Presidency and the National Council adopted in December. Also, HDZ unofficially says that the procedure for the expulsion of Tomašević from party membership would also be launched. The final decision will be made by the party High Court of Honour.
Tomašević has been indicted on the fact that, from October 2015 to October 2017, in their family home, with the intention of humiliating her, he often spoke derisively with his wife, threatening her with different threats and, at the same time, holding her around her neck and slapping her, thereby causing a sense of fear and vulnerability and violating her dignity, according to the statement issued by the State Attorney’s Office.
He has also been indicted that, on 2 October 2017, with the intention of injuring her, he hit her in the head with his hands, grabbing her by the neck and upper arms, and pushing her with his arms and legs, with caused injuries.
In October last year, after information about the incidents had been published by the media, Prime Minister and HDZ president Andrej Plenković told reporters that the decision about possible expulsion of Tomašević from HDZ would be made within the party. Plenković also said that Tomašević had been elected as the county prefect by voters.
While HDZ can expel Tomašević from the party, it can no longer remove him from his post as the county prefect, since he was elected directly by voters and the impeachment proceedings are long and complicated. The final opportunity for easier dismissal was missed in December when HDZ’s majority in the County Assembly could have rejected Tomašević’s budget proposal for 2018, which would automatically mean a removal of both the county prefect and the assembly and would force new local elections. However, HDZ’s majority voted for the budget proposal and in that way saved Tomašević. Immediately after that, HDZ’s majority in the Parliament adopted changes to the local administration laws, which now make it even harder to dismiss mayors and county prefects, effectively protecting them from any attempt to be dismissed before the end of their term.
Translated from Jutarnji List.
