Corruption is now used by the ‘little man’ to obtain what is guaranteed to him

Today, the Scientific-Development Initiative ZRIN was presented in Zagreb. It is a non-governmental, non-partisan, and non-profit organization that will function as a scientific and professional platform 'for the development and improvement of Croatia through aspects of all essential public policies with the aim of achieving an economic paradigm and inclusive political institutions'. The question that remains in the air is how much of this will remain non-governmental, non-partisan, and non-profit, as we can count on our fingers the examples of those who have not remained so despite promises.

Rich biography of the Association’s president

ZRIN was presented by its first president Damir Vanđelić, former head of the Reconstruction Fund and former president of the Supervisory Board of INA. Given that he was faced with very direct speculations from journalists at the end of the conference about whether the new initiative would actually become another political party, and the controversial director Dario Juričan joined in the same questions, it is essential to recall some facts first.

In the not-so-distant past, Vanđelić sharply criticized the policy of the Government of the Republic of Croatia regarding INA, although he himself found himself in the not-so-distant past as a candidate of former president Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović for the position of prime minister in the interim government in 2015 when no one had a majority.

Let us recall that for a time the current prime minister Andrej Plenković had his eyes set on Vanđelić as a potential candidate for the mayor of Zagreb, but the newly minted president of ZRIN already stated at that time that it was not in his interest to lead the city at a partnership level as it was led by the late Milan Bandić, who changed political ideology depending on party possibilities and under-the-table agreements.

Alongside Vanđelić as president, the Management Board of ZRIN includes prof.dr.sc. Gordan Gledec from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing in Zagreb, mr.sc. Vedrana Pribičević, a professor at the Zagreb School of Economics and Management, doc.dr.sc. Marin Strmota, a professor at the Faculty of Economics in Zagreb, and dr.sc. Ivan Škegro, an ophthalmology specialist from the Eye Diseases Clinic of KBC –a Zagreb.

A country that seeks urgent changes

– Croatia is at the very bottom of the EU in terms of economic and social indicators such as respect for the voice of the people, management efficiency, rule of law, and perception of corruption, although our citizens are above the EU average in many respects, so the political institutions and public policies that we must work on are an obvious obstacle despite the developed atmosphere of pressure on any different opinion.

Therefore, we will insist on inclusive political institutions and economic, and then overall prosperity of Croatia – Vanđelić stated at the beginning of the presentation of the newly minted initiative, from whose performance, at least at first glance, it could be inferred that he is at least dissatisfied with the current state in Croatia.

Vanđelić also stated that those in power today often only accept praise, and when constructive criticism appears, critics who come with good intentions are characterized as a kind of enemies. He concluded that a failing country is a problem for all citizens and that 'a successful entrepreneur in a failing country will never be able to prosper'.

Worrying demographic picture

At the presentation, demographer Marin Strmota also spoke, and his performance relied primarily on statistics and worrying data and negative trends of the Croatian population.

– The last census showed that these trends continue. The demographic situation we are in is primarily a reflection of the absence of a vision for the overall development of our country, and then the lack of an adequate population policy. The issue of demographics is an issue of economic development and sustainability – Strmota said, noting that Croatia could fall to around three million inhabitants by 2050.

– It is no longer enough just to force people to move to Croatia, but to encourage the birth trend in Croatia. It is too late for everything else if we want to see results – he said.

Let us recall that Strmota is a former state secretary in the Ministry of Demography who unexpectedly resigned in 2018 during a press conference after presenting the then demographic measures. At that time, he stated that after a year and four months he was resigning because the approach of the Government and the ministry was not serious enough, and the state is dying, he said, adding that such an approach will not solve any demographic problems in the country.

You don’t go to the doctor for an examination without a gift

Maja Grubišin Cvitan, a justice expert, commented that legislative processes in Croatia should be studied from a much deeper and analytical level to determine how a law actually works in real life and how much is dictated by the words written on paper. She also referred to the Croatian problem with corruption that starts with ourselves and ends with the fact that today even the ‘little man’ must resort to corruption to obtain something to which he has a completely legitimate right.

– When we talk about corruption, it is necessary for citizens to understand that change comes from themselves, that is, from the moment they go to the doctor and wonder whether to bring him a gift – said Grubišin Cvitan and concluded that one of the major problems in Croatia is that legislation changes and is supplemented almost constantly – making it almost impossible to interpret.

– Does anyone here know how many laws exist in the Republic of Croatia? – she asked a room full of experts from academic circles who also did not know the answer to that question.

Croatia needs convergence

Economic expert Vedrana Pribičević commented that Croatia needs high, sustainable rates of economic growth that encompass the broadest social strata.

– The convergence of Croatia and the EU must be the ultimate goal. Building inclusive economic institutions is the main prerequisite for this, which all reasonable individuals can agree on, regardless of ideological orientation – Pribičević stated and concluded that we should look to neighboring countries like Slovenia, but in the long term also to those like Denmark.

Whether this non-governmental organization will grow into a political weapon, or remain a body that provides resistance and pressure on the public sector where pressure is needed, remains to be seen.