Roglić: Privatization is necessary if we want capitalism instead of bankrupt socialism

Ivan Lovrinović from the coalition Jedina opcija (Živi zid, Franak, Promijenimo Hrvatsku, Akcije mladih) stated on Monday that Podravka must be returned to the list of strategically important companies as it is the backbone of the development of Koprivničko-križevačka and surrounding counties and the most important food industry in Croatia.

– Recently, we witnessed how Podravka was removed from the list of strategic companies during a telephone session. It is interesting that it was removed from that list by the same people who have been bombarding us through the media in recent days with the idea that they are the protectors of national interests – said Lovrinović at a press conference in Koprivnica.

“Everything should be privatized”

The opposing view was presented by the owner of the Orbico group Branko Roglić, one of the most successful Croatian entrepreneurs and holder of several positions in the Croatian Employers’ Association, stating without hesitation that “everything should be privatized except truly strategic companies in the fields of energy, forests, water, railways, and urban transport.”

– Everything else needs to be urgently privatized, otherwise, we will continue to decline. A strategic partner should be found for Podravka, preferably a world-renowned food producer who would lead it further. Our problem is that we still live in socialism, with 65 percent of companies not privatized. We must privatize everything if we finally want to have capitalism, not socialism that has bankrupted everywhere in the world except in Cuba and North Korea – Roglić told us in a phone conversation.

We remind you that on May 11, the government removed eight companies from the list of trading companies of strategic and special interest during a telephone session, among which was Podravka.