SDP members of parliament harshly criticized Prime Minister Andrej Plenković during the current hour on Friday, telling him that he responds to their questions “sedatively, pale, and diplomatically,” accusing him that due to the poor policies of his government, Croatia is divided, that his interlocutors are “Skejo and Bujanec,” and with the claim that “Plenković’s government is worse than Karamarko’s,” Gordan Maras asked him when he plans to resign.
SDP leader Davor Bernardić is convinced that the real data on Agrokor’s operations is being concealed.
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– It has been five months since the ‘lex Agrokor’ was passed, written for one company, and five months since the extraordinary commissioner Ramljak was appointed, whom we have seen more in the summer magazine columns than explaining the actual state of affairs. The state has taken on all risks, debts, and potential dangers and tied them to itself. Therefore, it is surprising that the real data on the company’s operations is being concealed. Are you receiving reports on the actual state or will you, when they arrive, pretend that you did not know about them and pompously dismiss one of your ministers? Why are you afraid of the investigative committee, Bernardić asked Plenković.
The Prime Minister assured that everything being done is transparent.
– The Law on Companies of Systemic Importance for the Republic of Croatia was passed by the Parliament under circumstances when the largest company found itself in a situation to fall under bankruptcy law. You know how many employees, companies, suppliers, and small agricultural farms are tied to that company and what the effect would be if we said the market is free, it is a private company, and we will do nothing… By passing that law, a new element of trust was established with creditors who were willing to offer fresh liquidity and money based on which suppliers, salaries, and farmers were paid… We included world consultants, credible globally recognized auditing firms in the restructuring process, in such a way that everything being done in the company is entirely transparent, Plenković emphasized. On the website of the Ministry of Economy, he said, there are monthly reports submitted by the extraordinary commissioner.
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– The restructuring process is ongoing and led with credible international actors. We have another 9 months to complete that process and we will continue to work transparently, professionally, and responsibly in the interest of Croatian citizens, he stated.
Saving Zdravko Marić
Bernardić, dissatisfied with the response, told the Prime Minister that he did not answer a single question posed. “While you sedatively, pale, and diplomatically respond, you are deceiving the public, in the background, the process of transformation and privatization from the 90s continues. You do not serve the interests of citizens, but the interests of individuals and interest groups. You did not save 40 thousand jobs in Agrokor, but one job – that of your Minister of Finance,” he told him.
For removing one plaque, he said, Plenković’s government took nine months and they themselves, he says, are not even sure whether they would remove it or take it down.
He also accused Plenković of a “policy of giving up, postponement, inaction” and creating the impression that something is being done. “You are buying time for your position in the European Commission, the prime ministerial position for you is a backup position, and Croatia does not deserve that,” Bernardić asserted.
