It will not be easy for the future Minister of Transport, but it will be no easier for the Minister of Finance. He will be troubled – among other things – by the drop in oil prices.
According to estimates by former Minister of Finance Slavko Linić, this could create a budget gap of 350 million kuna. A barrel has fallen to 34.42 dollars in the U.S. What will happen next – even seasoned analysts with a crystal ball cannot predict. However, the Minister of Finance will be tempted to raise excise duties. He would not be the first to solve a problem this way. Especially when such an unpopular measure must be taken – at the beginning of the mandate. Linić estimates that the new government will not decide on such a move in the first quarter. Therefore, higher excise duties can be expected in the second quarter.
