The arrest of Polančec has unjustly overshadowed the questionable start of the Economic Council under President Ivo Josipović. It seems that another advisory team may disappoint.
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Written by: Miodrag Šajatović |
It would be best if Škegro, Lovrinčević, Švaljek, and Perić presented their program, with Josipović’s advisory team supporting them. This would shift the ball from advisors to politicians. |
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It is always inconvenient in the media when two important events occur within a few days, and the more attractive one overshadows the other, which is less intriguing on the surface but, in essence, equally important. Thus, the first meeting of the Economic Council of President Ivo Josipović has been pushed into the background because the media finds the arrest of former Deputy Prime Minister Damir Polančec, due to suspicions regarding his role in the ‘Spice’ affair, much more attractive. This affair involves the attempted takeover of ownership control over the Koprivnica-based Podravka. In fact, both events should have equally far-reaching effects on the future economic prospects in Croatia. When a former Deputy Prime Minister is arrested, it is crucial whether Uskok will bring the case to indictment and conviction. Politicians without handcuffs? If it turns out that the grand spectacle was made without solid evidence, the most important message will not be achieved – that future state officials must be very careful about what and how they do their work. For now, the impression is that there are still no crown evidence and confessions in the hands of investigators. The only significant news is that the practice has changed regarding the handcuffing of detainees who are clearly not going to flee or attack anyone, for the sake of appearances. Perhaps the absence of this ‘fashion’ detail is reserved only for politicians, while it applies to entrepreneurs and managers. Stopping the bad moves of the government, or individuals within it, if it results from a series of arrests and processes opened recently (where it is quite likely that the former Prime Minister Ivo Sanader will eventually be included in this demonstration exercise) – unfortunately, is far from enough. Croatia needs constructive moves, in addition to repression, those that will contribute to creating new value. A lot was expected from the new President Ivo Josipović. Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor has shown for too many months that she lacks the vision and strength to create an economically consistent package that could actively start pulling the country out of depression. Neither has the advisory team Škegro – Lovrinčević – Švaljek – Perić shown a good game so far. It is irrelevant whether certain ministers have prevented them from providing their recipe or they simply do not have the right ideas; the public has turned to Pantovčak and possible Josipović’s proposals as a last hope. Unfortunately, so far, only disappointments have come from that address. Time is passing, and President Josipović, as if every day is not critical in economic terms, calmly convenes his huge economic council – which held its founding meeting, but only an introductory one. In a few weeks, there will be another meeting where something will already be discussed. As it stands, by the time consensus is reached and advice is shaped for the government – the crisis will pass on its own. First, the President must not relinquish involvement in economic discussions. If national security is within his jurisdiction – is there a greater threat than the increasingly likely social unrest? The breaking of glass to enter the premises of the company Salonit in Vranjic should be taken very seriously! Polyphony or cacophony? Second, there is much truth in the old saying that if you do not want to solve a problem – you establish a commission. Or an economic council. Kudos to all members of Josipović’s economic council as individuals. But all of them together, in a body that Josipović somewhat naively expects to produce polyphony, will hardly yield a uncompromising strategy for exiting the crisis. Instead of polyphony, it is more realistic to expect – cacophony. Each entrepreneur and manager has a view from their own backyard. It seems that no one among them has the big picture, especially not one ‘painted’ on paper. President Josipović clearly stated after the elections that he would advocate for transforming an import-dependent economy into an export-oriented one. Today, there is no more talk about that. From all the advice, he no longer sees the forest. Now, it seems, he only sees a lot of trees. It would be best if the advisory quartet of Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor dared to write their program of measures that would need to be implemented. And publish it. So that it would be a program that would support Josipović’s mega-council. Then the responsibility would clearly be placed within the ruling coalition. HDZ and HSS as the main players would be brought to the forefront to see if they are capable of pulling the country out of recession or not. Otherwise, everything will turn into a soap opera, and the advisors, whether Kosor’s or Josipović’s, willingly or unwillingly, will become co-responsible for what will happen in the coming months and years. |
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