Politics

ZAGREB, 20 January 2021 - Croatian President Zoran Milanović said after the inauguration of Joe Biden as the new president of the United States on Wednesday he was glad to see that the light ultimately triumphed over the darkness. Writing on his Facebook profile, Milanović said that according to Wikipedia in English, he and Finland's President Sauli Niinisto were the only two European heads of state or government who had openly endorsed Biden's presidential campaign. "Watching President Biden as he entered the White House, I have to say that (as a non-religious person) I am glad when it is confirmed that…

ZAGREB, 20 January 2021 - Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said after the inauguration of US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday that he was looking forward to strengthening bilateral ties with the United States. "Congratulations to the new President of the United States Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Croatia and the United States are friends and partners. Looking forward to strengthening bilateral relations and our transatlantic alliance," Plenković wrote on Twitter. Biden, 78, was sworn in as the 46th US president on Wednesday, becoming the oldest US president in history. Harris is the…

ZAGREB, 20 January 2021 - The Supreme Court on Wednesday acquitted former Šibenik-Knin County fire chief Dražen Slavica of responsibility for the 2007 tragedy in which 12 firefighters were killed while trying to put out a wildfire on Kornati island. Croatia's highest court said that the Zagreb County Court was right to conclude that Slavica was not responsible for the actions or omissions of persons who should have acted in accordance with their powers under the law and that he did not have the authority to lead the fire operation that also involved aviation. "The accused was not authorised to…

ZAGREB, 20 January 2021 - Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said in parliament on Tuesday that post-earthquake reconstruction of the Banovina region could be faster than that of Zagreb due to the fact that a vast majority of damaged units there were family houses that were easier to renovate than apartment blocks in Zagreb. "To give a reconstruction calendar now would be irresponsible of me but we will do our best for reconstruction to start as soon as possible," he said in response to a question by Social Democrat MP Boška Ban Vlahek during a debate on the government-sponsored amendments to the Act on…

ZAGREB, 20 January 2021 - Presenting amendments to the Act on the Post-Earthquake Reconstruction in parliament on Wednesday, PM Andrej Plenković said that the government would do its best to help earthquake victims and that it was open to a consensus to achieve a long-lasting and sustainable solution. "The aim was to provide more assistance than was the case after the first earthquake (in Zagreb) and to involve also the Central State Office for Housing Reconstruction to deal with reconstruction and housing issues in the government-assisted area under a 100% state funding scheme," Plenković said while presenting amendments that expand the law, originally intended…

ZAGREB, 19 January 2021 - German Ambassador Robert Klinke on Tuesday presented his country's donation of 40 housing containers to quake victims in Sisak-Moslavina County, at a ceremony in the town of Lekenik. Addressing the donation-giving ceremony, the ambassador said that the 29 December earthquake-triggered off a wave of compassion and solidarity throughout Germany. All in Germany followed those tragic developments during the quake and in the aftermath in which several people lost their lives and many residents were left homeless, Klinke was quoted as saying in a press release issued by the Croatian Interior Ministry. So far Germany has sent…

ZAGREB, 19 January 2021 - Canadian Ambassador Alan Bowman on Tuesday visited the quake-affected towns of Petrinja and Glina and held talks with officials of the Red Cross Croatia, which is in charge of distributing aid sent by Canada. "Canada sympathises with all people affected by the earthquake. The Canadian government closely cooperates with the Red Cross in providing aid to those in need," said Bowman while addressing media in the Croatian language, after he held talks with the Red Cross Croatia director. Bowman recalled that on the first day after the 29 December quake, Canadian Croats raised 100,000 Canadian dollars for…

ZAGREB, 19 January, 2021 - Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said on Tuesday that less than two percent of houses reconstructed in Sisak-Moslavina County after the Homeland War have been found unfit to live in following a 6.2 magnitude earthquake on 29 December. Organised post-war reconstruction in Sisak-Moslavina County referred to 5,880 houses belonging in the categories IV to VI (most extensive damage) and 3,761 of them have now been inspected and of that number, 69 or 1.83% have been declared unfit for use while 175 are temporarily unfit for use, the PM said during Question Time in parliament, in response to criticism by MP Dalija Orešković…

ZAGREB, 19 January, 2021 - Parliamentary opposition parties on Tuesday criticised HDZ's position on a property scandal involving Sisak-Moslavina County head and HDZ member Ivo Žinić, saying that he should step down and be called to account while criticising PM Andrej Plenković for not having reacted sooner to the case. Social Democratic Party (SDP) leader Peđa Grbin said that two years ago Žinić "had police sent to newspaper offices, a year ago he organised a party amid coronavirus restrictions, and now we see that during his whole political career he has used his position to secure gain for himself and his family…

ZAGREB, 19 January, 2021 - Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said during Question Time in parliament on Tuesday that no one was untouchable when it came to corruption. "No one is untouchable, everyone should know this," said Plenkovic responding to a question from MP Ivana Posavec Krivec (SDP) who called out the HDZ for corruption in Zagreb County. Posavec Krivec recalled Plenković's recent claim that he has a "fine-tuned radar" and reminded him of the case where a renowned HDZ member went under the radar similar to the latest case with Sisak-Moslavina County Prefect Ivo Žinić. "Now Žinić is passing under your radar too.…