Novotny: It’s all political marketing, unlikely anything will be implemented

The grand announcements of HDZ president Tomislav Karamarko regarding the presentation of the party’s economic program were commented on with skepticism by Damir Novotny.

I believe that the whole story is more about political marketing; it is easy to promise everything before elections, but it is unlikely that anything will be implemented. Neither political bloc has sincerely admitted to the electorate that they have no idea how to reform the economy, how to set the economy on a path of economic growth, but are simply trying to maintain political positions and gain power, and then whatever happens, happens – emphasizes Novotny and (over)optimistically adds that the electorate is too smart to continue being deceived.

– It is certain that we need a new economic policy that will set ambitious goals, but how to achieve that, it is certainly not through state investments but private ones. Forget the state; only the market and private individuals are key – concludes Novotny.

Professor Drago Jakovčević emphasized that with a growth rate of five percent, much of what Karamarko announced would be achievable, but he sees the problem in the fact that no specific measures have been outlined that would lead to such growth.

– Croatia grew at rates of five percent before the crisis, and at that time, the number of unemployed truly decreased by approximately 27 thousand annually. That is my personal calculation based on statistical data. However, there remains a ‘small’ problem, which is the question of how to achieve a growth rate of five percent? I have not heard or read on what exactly such an economic boom should be based, what system, measures, and instruments will lead to that. With a 20 percent growth over four years, we would reach the level of developed EU countries because the share of public debt and budget deficit would decrease, and that would truly be good; pensions could be raised, and maternity benefits could be provided, but I say, I would like to see a detailed explanation of how we will achieve that growth – emphasized Jakovčević.

Guste Santini just laughed at our invitation and the enumeration of the announced measures of the HDZ, emphasizing that the most important thing is that the economic program is based on a diagnosis of the current state and problems, and that without such analysis, everything is in vain.

– After the diagnosis is established, a therapy that the patient can endure should be prescribed, and then say ‘we will implement such and such measures that will yield such and such results.’ This requires serious work, not just throwing around numbers. They say there will be a five percent growth, and I say, why not nine percent, why not pass a law that national pensions will amount to one thousand euros and will not change regardless of everything. All of this is nice in forecasts, but we have serious work ahead – concluded Santini.

What Tomislav Karamarko communicated to voters during the presentation of the economic program can be read here.