Politics

February the 11th, 2021 - Croatia's numbers have continued to tumble as the country gets a grip on the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, but with measures due to be reviewed over the coming days and the discovery of the new British strain of the virus in Croatia, could plans to re-open be put back on ice again? Health Minister Vili Beros set a few things straight following a recent meeting. As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, following the conclusion of a meeting of the Scientific Council of the Croatian Government, at which scientists discussed with Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic a possible easing of the…

ZAGREB, 10 February 2021 - The Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) on Wednesday officially presented Davor Filipović as its candidate for Zagreb Mayor in local elections to be held in May, with HDZ leader and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković stressing his competence and ambition. Plenković noted that Filipović was aware of all problems, outstanding issues and challenges in the capital city. "With his work in the City Assembly over the past four years he has positioned himself very well, he has been recognised, he is familiar with all topics that are relevant for the future of the city's residents and with…

ZAGREB, 10 February 2021 - President Zoran Milanović on Wednesday met with a delegation of the General Electric company whose representatives expressed interest in investing in Croatia to contribute to curbing the emigration of highly skilled workers, the Office of the President said. The GE delegation consisted of Endre Ascsillán, GE Vice President for Government and Strategic Affairs in Central and Eastern Europe, and Tungsram Group President and Chief Executive Officer Joerg Bauer. President Milanović welcomed the interest expressed in investments to help keep highly educated workers in Croatia, expressing hope such investments would contribute to Croatia's economic development. The US company General Electric,…

ZAGREB, 10 February 2021 - Opposition MPs in the parliament on Wednesday said that the government's proposal for additional measures to bail out the economy in the circumstances marked by the COVID pandemic were welcome but insufficient, while MPs from the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) hailed the proposal. The measures should have been be stronger and more ambitious MP Marin Lerotić of the Istrian Democratic Party (IDS) and MP Miro Bulj  of the Bridge party said during a debate on draft amendments to the Investment Stimulation Law, which introduce new measures to curb the consequences of the pandemic. The draft amendments will enable the awarding…

ZAGREB, 10 February 2021 - The procurement of new multipurpose fighter jets has not been postponed and it is not an option for the Croatian airspace to be guarded by foreigners, Defence Minister Mario Banožić said on Wednesday. "We still have our MiGs whose lifespan expires in 2024. I deeply hope that by that time we will resolve our situation regarding the multipurpose fighter aircraft," Banožić said after a presentation of new ambulances delivered to the Croatia Army in Zagreb. Until then, he added, the Croatian Air Force will continue guarding the Croatia skies as it has done over the…

ZAGREB, 10 February 2021 - Croatian President Zoran Milanović writes in a Facebook post in his comment on sexual harassment that all the victims of that crime "are not equal and same" and that in the real world into which Hollywood does not fit, class and status play a role in such cases. "I will repeat that what a large majority know and can see and feel: sexual harassment victims are not equal and same," the president says, underscoring that differences can be huge ranging "from sheer terror to going beyond bounds of good taste." In this context, he underscored that…

ZAGREB, 9 February 2021 - The leadership of the Croatian Democratic Union's (HDZ) branch in Split on Tuesday announced that branch president Vice Mihanović would be the HDZ mayoral candidate in that second biggest Croatian city. Mihanović, 48, the head of the Port of Split, succeeded Petar Škorić at the helm of the HDZ branch in Split during intra-party elections held in late November. The incumbent mayor of Split, HDZ official Andro Krstulovic Opara, 53, said in early November that he would not stand for another term as mayor in local elections next May, citing his health reasons. In late January 2018, Krstulovic Opara, was diagnosed with melanoma.…

ZAGREB, 9 February 2021 - Davor Filipović will be the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) candidate in the race for the position of mayor of Zagreb at the coming local election, unofficial sources from HDZ's Zagreb branch said on Tuesday. Confirmation of Filipović's candidature is expected at an online session of the party's Zagreb branch on Wednesday. Davor Filipović (36) was born in Sarajevo. He obtained his PhD at the Zagreb Faculty of Economics and is a lecturer in the Organisation and Management Department. He also studied at Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey. He is an HDZ councillor in the Zagreb City Assembly and the chairman…

ZAGREB, 9 February 2021 - Parliament will continue its sitting on Wednesday with eight items on the agenda, including a bill on investment promotion, designed to help alleviate the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. The government has proposed three more measures to those previously adopted to promote investment, Economy Minister Tomislav Ćorić explained. Investment subsidies will be expanded to include enterprises that did not have any difficulties until 31 December 2019 but in the period from 1 January to 30 June 2020 faced difficulties in doing business. Businesses that receive subsidies for investment projects whose implementation coincided with the start of the pandemic…

ZAGREB, 9 February 2021 - The Croatian Ministry of Finance sold HRK 1.86 billion worth of treasury bonds at an auction on Tuesday, at an interest rate of just 0.03%.  In advance of the maturity of HRK 1.58 billion worth of treasury bonds, the Ministry offered HRK 1.5 billion for subscription with a maturity of one year. Financial institutions submitted bids totalling HRK 2.71 billion and the Ministry accepted HRK 1.86 billion or HRK 355 million more than planned. The Ministry thus issued HRK 1.86 billion in kuna-denominated treasury bonds with a maturity of one year and at an interest…