Politics

ZAGREB, 19 October, 2021 - Economy and Sustainable Development Minister Tomislav Ćorić wrote on Twitter on Monday evening that due to the continued rise in oil prices we would have seen a hike in fuel prices at petrol stations if the government hadn't decided to temporarily cap fuel prices last week. "Oil prices have continued to rise and if the government hadn't intervened, tomorrow we would be witnessing a significant price rise. According to calculations, compared with the price set by the decree, the price of Eurodizel would be higher by HRK 0.63, of Eurosuper 95 by HRK 0.39, while the price…

ZAGREB, 19 October, 2021 - Greenpeace activists on Monday held a performance at the site of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Omišalj on the island of Krk where they sprayed the message "Climate Killer". Petra Andrić of Greenpeace Croatia informed the press of this action. Greenpeace CEE activists onboard inflatable boats reached the terminal and painted "CLIMATE KILLER!" across the side of the LNG offshore terminal on the island of Krk in Croatia, the NGO also tweeted. Andrić said that the protest, organised by the Greenpeace activists from central and eastern Europe, was peaceful. Apart from the national context, also…

ZAGREB, 18 Oct 2021 - The people of Lovas on Monday laid wreaths and lit candles at a monument to 21 locals forced into a minefield by Serb paramilitaries and the former Yugoslav Army 30 years ago today. On 18 October 1991, a few days after entering Lovas, aggressor forces chose a group of 51 residents and forced them into a minefield, where 21 were killed and 14 wounded. "I hope that those responsible will be brought to justice one day," said Vukovar-Srijem County head Damir Dekanić. Lovas Municipality head Tanja Cirba said 89 Lovas residents were killed in the Homeland War and that…

ZAGREB, 18 Oct 2021 - More than two tonnes of narcotics seized in police operations was burnt in a factory in the eastern town of Našice on Monday, including two tonnes of marijuana and hashish, 28 kilos of amphetamines, 15 kilos of cocaine, and 12 kilos of heroin, with a street value of about €9.5 million. Interior Minister Davor Božinović said that the amount of drugs seized was proof of good cooperation between relevant state authorities. He said that drug abuse was a global problem, especially in Europe which has become the main market for some types of drugs, notably…

ZAGREB, 18 Oct 2021 - Croatian and Slovenian Presidents, Zoran Milanović and Borut Pahor, unveiled a monument to a Slovenian poet, France Prešeren in Zagreb's Bundek Park, on Monday after they had unveiled a bust to one of the leaders of the Croatian National Revival, Ljudevit Gaj in Ljubljana earlier in the day. The monument to Peršen is situated in Bundek Park's Alley of Poets, thus joining monuments to the Russian writers Aleksandr Pushkin and Sergei Yesenin, the Hungarian writer Mór Jókai and the father of Bulgarian literature, Ivan Minchev Vazov. Prešern's poem Zdravljica (A Toast) is the text of the Slovenian…

ZAGREB, 18 Oct 2021- The head of the national COVID-19 crisis management team, Davor Božinović, said on Monday, ahead of the start of the administration of the third vaccine dose, that vaccination was the best prevention against serious illness and hospitalization. "We can protect ourselves from the most serious illness, individually and as a community, if we accept the fact that science, not just in this epidemic but in previous ones too, has helped humankind to survive," he told the press in Našice. He added that "those who don't trust science first of all harm themselves, and then the community." He said the recent rise in…

ZAGREB, 18 Oct 2021 - The incumbent president of the Zagreb branch of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) party, Mislav Herman, was re-elected to this post at the party's internal elections on Sunday. Herman won 3,341 votes, while his rival Pavo Kostopeč received 1,931. Herman called on the members of the HDZ's Zagreb branch to show unity and commitment so that they would take the helm of the city administration at the next local election. Members of his campaign team, the current cabinet ministers Nikolina Brnjac and Josip Aladrović, as well as Mario Župan and Frane Barbarić, were elected vice-presidents. On…

ZAGREB, 18 Oct 2021 – Croatian National Bank (HNB) Governor Boris Vujčić said on Sunday that Croatian citizens should not fear a sudden rise in loan installments as a result of the rise in the inflation rate. Speaking in an interview with the HRT public broadcaster on Sunday evening, Vujčić said there was no room for panic that interest rates would rise abruptly, and with the loan payments, for citizens who have long-term loans with variable interest rates. He noted that the interest rates had been at record low levels since 2015 and that throughout that time the HNB was…

ZAGREB, 17 Oct, 2021 - European Commission Vice-President Dubravka Šuica of Croatia believes Croatians are insufficiently interested in participation in the Conference on the Future of Europe, launched by the EU to convince citizens of its 27 member-states that their opinion, too, is important in decision-making. Numerous citizens believe they have no influence on decisions made by EU politicians and bureaucrats so the EU's three main institutions - the European Commission, the Council of the EU and the European Parliament - have launched an online platform where citizens can offer their proposals on topics important for the bloc. "More is expected of…

ZAGREB, 17 Oct, 2021 - Prime Minister and HDZ party leader Andrej Plenković said on Sunday that intraparty elections at which the leaders of the HDZ's city and county branches will be elected, were democratic and transparent. "Anyone who wanted to run as a candidate could do so, and the process has been transparent and democratic. I do not see any relevant objections or anything that is not in line with democratic standards," said Plenković, who cast his vote in regular intraparty elections. He expressed hope that local HDZ branches, which are to elect their presidents and vice-presidents today, would contribute…