Politics

ZAGREB, June 26, 2019 - President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović on Tuesday evening held a reception on the occasion of Statehood Day, celebrated on 25 June throughout the country, and on that occasion, the head of state underscored that she firmly believed in the future of Croatia which "has great people, and the nation with many virtues which are demonstrated when it is most essential and necessary." "Long live our only and eternal Homeland Croatia!" she said and then specified some of tasks which should be done to ensure the further development of the country. The president says that the demographic issue…

ZAGREB, June 25, 2019 - Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić on Tuesday sent messages with best wishes to Croatia and Slovenia on the occasion of their public holidays -- Statehood Day -- observed in remembrance of the declaration of the two countries' independence in 1991 from the Socialist Yugoslav federation (SFRY). Vučić's message sent to Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović reads that the Serbian head of state expects the intensification of dialogue on the matters of joint interest. so as to enhance the Serbia-Croatia relations. Vučić wrote in his message to his Slovenian counterpart Borut Pahor that Serbia was committed to the…

ZAGREB, June 25, 2019 - Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said on Tuesday that the whole "guilt" of Public Administration Minister Lovro Kuščević was actually his omission to enter his two properties in the local geodetic registry, and that since the very beginning his cabinet had been exposed to criticism orchestrated by "prompters". "The fact that somebody has omitted to register two properties in the geodetic registry is omission. However, this omission does not have such proportions to make us question his (Kuščević's) political and human integrity," Plenković said, while responding to questions from the press after a wreath-laying ceremony on…

ZAGREB, June 25, 2019 - President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović said on Tuesday that she was not afraid of anybody's candidacy for the presidential elections, whereas Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said that everybody could run for the presidency, but that the winner would be the incumbent president Grabar-Kitarović. Asked by the press whether she feared that her "postponement " in the formal announcement of her decision to run for the second term, considering also the candidacy announced by pop singer Miroslav Škoro, could diminish her chances, the president said: "I am not afraid of anything". Plenković also dismissed speculations that Škoro's candidacy…

ZAGREB, June 25, 2019 - The U.S. State Department says in its annual report on religious freedoms worldwide that an increase in religious intolerance, particularly online was perceived in Croatia in 2018. "The Council of Europe and the national ombudsperson reported an increase in religious intolerance, particularly online," reads the report's section on Croatia. "In May, the Council of Europe released a report saying religious intolerance, including pro-Ustasha graffiti and online speech, were on the rise in the country. "Minority religious communities reported occasional instances of verbal harassment and physical assault, including of religious workers. "The ombudsperson’s report said comments…

ZAGREB, June 25, 2019 - Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković underscored in his congratulatory note on the occasion of Croatia's Statehood Day that 25 June 1991 will be permanently inscribed in the nation's history as the day when the Croatian Sabor, as the Croatian people's legitimate representative legislature that has preserved Croatian sovereignty for centuries, unanimously adopted two decisions essential for Croatia's present-day sovereignty and independence. On 25 June, Croatia observes Statehood Day in memory of the parliament's decisions to adopt the Constitutional Decision on the Sovereignty and Independence of Croatia and the declaration proclaiming the country's sovereignty and independence. The…

ZAGREB, June 24, 2019 - Zoran Milanović who is running in the presidential race on behalf of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), entered the campaign entirely unprepared and did not show any political will or ideas of what he would do as the country's president whereas Miroslav Škoro, very convincingly presented his concept of reforms to the Constitution which would give the president more powers and is perceived by two analysts as a much better candidate for playing play a conciliatory role. "Zoran Milanović entered the campaign completely unprepared without any new ideas and without any announcements of what his…

ZAGREB, June 24, 2019 - Minister of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Crafts Darko Horvat and Međimurje County Prefect Matija Posavec met on Monday for a working meeting to discuss details for a cabinet meeting that will be held in the Čakovec on July 18 and as Posavec said, he will present "prepared projects for which he expects support from the national level." It was agreed that a cabinet meeting will be held in Čakovec on July 18. He added that the last cabinet meeting in Čakovec was held 14 years ago in the local army barracks when the government granted the…

ZAGREB, June 24, 2019 - The parliamentary Conflict of Interest Commission has opened a case into Public Administration Minister Lovro Kuščević based on a report concerning his failure to register his property in Nerežišća on the southern island of Brač. The report also concerns an alteration of the urban development plan allowing him to build a residential property instead of a barn, an incorrectly filled declaration of assets, and a permit for house rental. After checking the allegations from the report, the Commission will decide whether or not it will take action against the minister, the Commission's secretary Majda Uzelac…

ZAGREB, June 24, 2019 - Croatia celebrates Statehood Day on Tuesday, the 28th anniversary since declaring independence from Yugoslavia. On this occasion, President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović will hold a formal reception in her office, and the Archbishop of Zagreb, Cardinal Josip Bozanić, will celebrate the Holy Mass for the Homeland in St Mark's Church. Statehood Day commemorates 25 June 1991 when the Croatian Parliament adopted a historic resolution initiating the process of disassociation from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia based on the results of a referendum held on 19 May 1991. Until 2001 Statehood Day was observed on 30 May…