Petrov on the Potential of Agrokor’s Portfolio: We Do Not Need One Giant but a Series of Strong Companies

The leader of Most and President of the Croatian Parliament Božo Petrov stated on Tuesday that he believes Croatian companies should participate in the purchase of Agrokor’s companies when they come to market, and noted that the government commissioner for Agrokor Ante Ramljak has the support of Most.

“I believe that all Croatian companies, when those from Agrokor come to market, should participate in the purchase, because I think we do not need one giant but a series of strong Croatian companies. If we set the rules this way, we lay a healthy foundation for the economy and market competition,” Petrov said for N1 television in Metković.

He also added that government commissioner Ante Ramljak has the support of Most, and that he expects transparency and cooperation from him.

Without government interference, Petrov believes that Ivica Todorić could continue to bid around Agrokor, which would keep the economic system in agony, and the fate of other large companies like Kraš or Vindija would also be in question. In the second phase, he said, the restructuring of Agrokor will follow in order for the first funds that come to be used for the payment of the smallest to the largest suppliers.

“Todorić is the owner, but the debts exceed the value of the company, so he is not the owner,” Petrov asserted.

He dismissed criticisms that Most is using the repressive apparatus in the election campaign, emphasizing that investigations must be independent regardless of the timing. “Investigations must be independent, they must not be politically motivated. There is no pre-election or post-election time when they should be obstructed. They should act when there are elements for investigation. As a citizen and president of the Parliament, I believe that it should be investigated whether criminal offenses have been committed. The timing is completely irrelevant,” he emphasized.

He confirmed that the Croatian Parliament will discuss the additional lifting of immunity for Tomislav Saucha next week, who is suspected in the travel expense scandal “Dnevnice”. In response to a journalist’s question about when daily allowances will start being paid through accounts, he said that the informatization of the Parliament is underway and a pilot project is in progress after which all parliamentary services will be connected.

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