Politics

Serbian Minority Leader to Enter Government?

By 15 September 2016

One of Milorad Pupovac’s conditions is that current Culture Minister Zlatko Hasanbegović cannot remain as minister.

Leader of Serbian national minority in Croatia Milorad Pupovac spoke on Thursday morning about possible role of national minorities’ representatives in the future government, reports N1 on September 15, 2016.

“This time there is a greater possibility that all eight national minorities MPs could act together, since there are no attempts to divide us and because political situation is simpler than eight months ago. These eight MPs cannot care only about their cultural and artistic societies, but also need to care about the general public interests of the country. We will talk more”, said Pupovac.

Speaking about relationship with the new government, Pupovac said they did not want to have a fluid and undefined relationship. “We should define our relationship, sign an agreement and become an integral part of the government. We will see what kind of relations we will have”, said Pupovac. Asked about whether he would become deputy prime Minister, Pupovac have a telling answer. “I have never before felt the need to personally take part in the government, but representatives of national minorities and my party will want to find a way how to control policies, and that is difficult without participation in the government.”

“As for the issue of bilingualism in Vukovar, the Constitutional Court has given deadlines and recommendations and we as a country of law have to respect that. This is not an issue only thing Vukovar but for all areas where there are legal requirements. We argued with Interior Minister Orepić about the fact that you cannot confuse the issue of census, which is used for regulation of rights on minority languages and scripts, and the issue of residence which is used for voting rights. We could be his partners in the future”, said Pupovac.

“Plenkovic has the prerequisites to be a good prime minister. He has a superior reputation in European and international circles and that is no small matter. He is a man who does not produce conflicts, that is my impression. Plenković will want to be the prime minister, which means to lead the government in the true sense of the word and know what every minister is doing. He will be a ‘full time prime minister’. Culture Minister Zlatko Hasanbegović is the complete opposite of Plenković. He is the reasons why Croatia had a negative image in the EU and the world. We cannot support someone who represents revisionist attitudes. Surely, we will not support the government if Hasanbegović in a minister”, concluded Pupovac.

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