The previous government tried to push through the monetization of highways in every possible way despite resistance from unions and the majority of the public, and it seems that such efforts have now come to an end.
Oleg Butković, the new Minister of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure, opposes the monetization of highways and states that the debts of highways will be resolved through reprogramming obligations and restructuring of companies. Companies will also need to improve their operations, and this year, Croatian Highways (HAC) has about 400 million euros in debt due for payment. Butković’s predecessor, Siniša Hajdaš Dončić, during the handover of the ministry, stated that the former government accepted a loan of 200 million euros for refinancing HAC’s obligations. This problem is more or less resolved, said Dončić, and the loan has an obligation for privatization or an initial public offering of HAC-ONC shares.
The new minister is supported in Lider’s Fight Club by Drago Munjiza, an entrepreneur and advisor, reminding that monetization is one of the major failures of the previous government. Through restructuring, he says, there would be enough left in the state budget for new projects, especially for public-private partnerships. The previous proposal for monetization is also rejected by Saša Drezgić, an associate professor at the Faculty of Economics in Rijeka, but he does not give up on concessions if the contract adequately protects Croatian interests. Such a contract could significantly reduce public debt, he believes, also emphasizing that it would free up additional funds for other projects.
