Milanović should take a step back and reveal what measures he intends to take

– This is not the first time they are framing me. I am not suspected in the Patria affair and I hope that someone from those more reasonable will apologize to me. These are all constructions. They want to discredit me because I can still be a respectable factor in politics – said former President of the Republic of Croatia Stjepan Mesić while guesting on the show Nedjeljom u dva.

Mesić emphasized that all contracts were made by the Ministry of Defense and as stated under the jurisdiction of the Government.

– The contract with Patria was signed by Minister of Defense Berislav Rončević and it is a good, transparent contract. The commission confirmed that Patria’s offer was the best in all segments – said Mesić.

He rejected claims that he suggested to anyone which vehicle to choose. He claims he did not meet Walter Wolf, and he only knew him from his engagement in the tobacco industry, not as a lobbyist for Patria. He also stated that he was only offered a bribe once in his life, and that was when he was the mayor.

When it comes to current politics, Mesić believes that the Government must state what measures it intends to take to attract investments and reduce unemployment. He believes the Government made a tactical mistake – it did not want to deal with the past, did not establish the real situation and who is responsible for such a situation and what to do to change it.

– Citizens are not interested in the Prime Minister’s knowledge of languages and he does not need to explain things he knows to them. The Prime Minister is brave, now he should take a step back and say – let’s do what Croatian citizens are asking of us – said Mesić in response to the question of whether this Government needs reconstruction.

Speaking about the ‘lex Perković’ case, he believes it is not a loss at all.

– Croatia has proven that it is sovereign and that it cannot be talked to through the media with the Parliament, the Prime Minister, and the Government – said Mesić, who still believes that the Government unnecessarily intervened in the case of Josip Perković because it is a matter of the judiciary. He also considers the rapid changes to the Constitution problematic, stating that the Constitution must be changed by consensus.